Mozambique: ACAMO speaks out on exclusion of visually impaired students

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Mozambique: ACAMO speaks out on exclusion of visually impaired students

2:19 CAT | 30 Jun 2022

FILE - Representative image. [File photo: Notícias]

The Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired of Mozambique (ACAMO), headquartered in Beira, Sofala, is complaining about the exclusion of its members from teacher training institutes and other private education institutions.

Speaking to ‘Notícias’ a few days ago, ACAMO delegate José Salifo said that the exclusion was based on disabilities and not any lack of knowledge.

“There are cases of this nature in primary and secondary schools and universities. That’s why we ask for the intervention of the relevant stakeholders so that people with visual impairments can also study in these institutions,” he appealed.

Salifo said that these cases were a recent development that manifested when the disabled tried to enrol in the institutes and some other private educational institutions.

He also noted the difficulties experienced by associates in accessing and developing income-generating projects.

“We have several income-generating projects, such as raising small animals. But we do not have support from partners, which is why there are many people with visual impairments cases out there begging,” he explained.

The Secretary of State in Sofala and some companies based in Beira had helped, within their means, he said, but their support was not enough to cover all the projects that ACAMO had for its members.

In response, Director of Provincial Services for Social Affairs, Manuel Chicamisse, said that his executive knew about the problem, and recommended that ACAMO submit a document to the Education sector detailing how many of its members wished to join the Institute for Teacher Training (IFAPA).

In his words, ACAMO was aware of the position, but had never submitted any document regarding it.

“The guidelines that we had from the Ministry, was to write to us, so that we could issue a document in your favour, addressed to the educational institutions where you intend to study. Any inter-institutional concerns should be written down. Sometimes they [the people who write the request] are individual persons, but individuals can also write – they are not prohibited,” he said.

Chicamisse also confirmed that there was an opening in the Education sector to resolve the ACAMO situation and enable its members to participate in teacher training.

Source: Notícias