THE Open University of Tanzania (OUT) has assured students with
disability they can study at the university, saying that before the end
of this year, OUT would institute a "student" assistance fund that will
be used to support disadvantaged students, including those with special
needs.
"We will continue supporting students with special needs; we have
just one reason for that. We are an equal opportunity university.
To us every person matters," said OUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Tolly
Mbwette at a students' meeting recently. The meeting was convened so
students with special needs and OUT management could brainstorm on the
achievements, challenges and outcomes of intervention strategies in
creating equal opportunities in accessing higher education to persons
with disability.
According to OUT Vice- Chancellor, such meetings gave opportunity for
an institution to rethink and re-plan for best ways to support all
students in accessing learning opportunities, especially in the era of
high technological advancements.
The objectives of the government in establishing this university was
to serve people with special needs as one of the minorities. "For this
reason, one of the strategies of ensuring we plan well for this in our
rolling strategic plan is to hold meetings with the concerned students
with special needs to discuss and agree on how the university can
further facilitate the students' transition at the university," Prof
Mbwette noted.
"OUT management under my leadership has been supportive in many of
your activities that intend to increase advocacy on the people with
special needs at local and national level", he insisted. He added that
in collaboration with different partners OUT will ensure that people
with disabilities have an uninterrupted access to higher education from
the university.
Some of the organizations which support OUT in creating learning
opportunities for persons with disabilities include David Anderson
African Trust (DAAT), which supported OUT in building an audio recording
studio and paid fees for some students; Tanzania Education Authority
(TEA), Sight Savers, Tanzania League for the Blind (TLB) which jointly
supported OUT in establishing an ICT training unit for persons with
disabilities.
Students with special needs at OUT met and discuss various issues
related to their learning and associated challenges. Meetings like this
give opportunity to both OUT management and the students on how to
create opportunities for learning to all social members.
OUT started enrolling persons with disability in 1997 when 12
students with visual impairment were admitted. By 2001 already the
number rose to 40 and currently the University has admitted about 180
students. Since then a milestone has been made, for instance, recording
study materials for students with visual impairment, collaborating with
like mind organisations in supporting students with disabilities,
establishing ICT training, launching ICT laboratory for persons with
disabilities.
Others are establishment of a special unit to support students with
special needs, allowing them with visual impairment to do their
examinations in Braille print and electronic means, employing more staff
to support students with disabilities, and organising ICT training to
the community members.
Since 2011 more than 100 persons have benefited from ICT training,
2011 (15), 2012 (27), 2013 (13), 2014 (33). There are also 12 teachers
from Buigiri and 4 teachers who benefited from ICT training at VETA
Kipawa. The good thing is that ICT Training facilitators are OUT
employees.
According to Prof Mbwette, OUT welcomes likeminded organisations and
partners to join them in creating an all inclusive society through ICT
in Tanzania and beyond. Currently, ICT is taking a major role in human
development and thus becoming an important tool for improving quality of
life for all.
"ICT skills are important for enhancing social and economic
development because they open access to learning and ICT related job
placements" Prof Mbwette said urged participants to use this opportunity
well so that they would come up with suggestions that OUT will work on
in order to improve its support services to persons with disabilities.
"I believe through ICT skills training, persons with disability can
be empowered and take opportunity to participate in educational,
technological, political, social, cultural and economic spheres,"
insisted the Vice-Chancellor.
"Today the technology has not left you out or behind, it means no
matter how you are and may be you are experiencing difficulties to
learn, the technology will assist you. We have talking computers, we
have hearing aids and we have multiple devices to assist your learning",
he said adding:
"Some of these services are available at the Open University of
Tanzania, that is why some of the students will discuss with you on
their experiences that is expected to inspire you in the learning
journey while at OUT," Prof Mbwette said.
Some of students at the meeting mentioned various challenges they
face during their daily studies, including lack of transport during
which they are forced to pay for fare and sometime meals for those who
escort them.
Mr Charles Makwere noted that they also lacked interpreters, proper
learning materials and printing facility, requesting the Vice-Chancellor
to work on the challenges so they could cope with their colleagues. In
2011 OUT hosted the disability day ceremony in Tanga where a number of
academic staff and international NGO officials presented papers
reflecting on disability issues in Tanzania.
Similarly, OUT has been participating in Fimbo Nyeupe, research
activities, and creating awareness through theatre arts, during the
massive killing of albino in Tanzania, OUT prepared a play called
'Wachawi wa Bongo' as a way to make the society aware of human rights
and particularly rights of persons with albinism to be honoured.
Prof Mbwette clarified that since 2010, the decision was made to
ensure that OUT buildings are accessible to persons with disabilities.
This is the reason for making the office of Assistive Special Technology
Unit (ASTU) is in the ground floor Block A at the temporary
Headquarters.
Furthermore to increases services to persons with disability in
Tanzania and beyond OUT has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding
between OUT and Deaf Aid.
The plans are that persons with deafness will have also access to ICT
training. All these efforts are toward creating opportunities for
persons with special needs and disabilities to access knowledge and
skills that will help them improve their quality of life.
Source:AllAfrica.
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