The South African Bill of Rights states that everyone has the right to basic education, which includes adult basic education, and to further education which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.
Through education we can empower ourselves and reduce inequality and discrimination, which could put an end to poverty and oppression.
Education is both a human right in itself and a crucial means of realising other human rights.
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However, Human Rights Watch, an international organisation, has bad news for South Africans.
Based on a report released by the Human Rights Watch in March 2019, an estimated 600 000 children with disabilities remain out of school in South Africa, which I strongly believe it is a violation of their right to education.
Our sister publication, Springs Advertiser, recently reported on a frustrated mother of a nine-year-old who has been battling to find school placement for her disabled child for more than two years.
“I was given the date of May 12, 2017, for the assessment to be done and my son was found with a speech disorder and ADHD,” says the mother.
The child had to wait for more than two years to find placement in an appropriate school. This proves that the government isn’t prioritising an inclusive educational system for all.
More and more learners are deprived of an opportunity to get proper education due to lack of facilities, equipped teachers and lack of services available to learners with disabilities.
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I have noted that in most cases physical access limits choice, as does provision of support services, and not all schools are prepared to provide full access to the curriculum.
Rural, regional and isolated areas provide minimal option of accessibility and remain mostly affected.
Many parents do not know what choices are open to their children in either special schools or inclusive schools, or about accessing ancillary services.
They are often unaware of how to access educational services appropriate to the needs of their child with a disability, particularly in early intervention and early childhood education.
Older learners find it difficult to obtain sufficient information about vocational education, pre-employment training and support services, or adult and community education.
They lack information about the procedure for funding or personal support and do not know what pre-schools, schools or any of the post-school services will be arranged for the learner. Many do not have information about planning their educational goals and how these are established, or whether equipment can be obtained to assist in accessing the curriculum.
“The South African government needs to admit that it is not providing quality education to all of its children; in fact, there is no education at all for many who have disabilities.
“The job is not done until all children have access to the same education system,” says Elin Martinez, a children’s rights researcher.
Lack of provision of funds is the biggest issue in providing equal access to education for learners with disabilities.
There are several funding sources, but none of them are sufficient to make and have available the full range of services needed.
President Cyril Ramaphosa needs to ensure that each and every individual in South Africa is given the opportunity to receive proper education.
