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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
At least 121 out of 377 people between the ages of 15 and 35 with disability in Bindura District dropped out of school in either Grade One or Grade Two, while the rest never went to school, a survey by Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) and Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) has revealed.

About 138 out of the 377 do not have identification documents, with nine only having a birth certificate.
DAPP projects officer Mr Joseph Kondowe told councillors and traditional leaders attending a training workshop on main streaming and prioritising disability issues in community development plans that people with hearing impairments in Bindura never received formal sign language lessons.

“The total number of people living with a disabilities in Bindura is 718, but our three year programme funded by the European Union (EU) is focusing on disabled youths between 15 to 35 years which narrows the figure to 377,” said Mr Kondowe.
“The programme is called, “Youth actions on the implementation and monitoring of disability rights in Zimbabwe” and it is being implemented in three districts – Bindura, Shamva and Rushinga.

“377 is an approximate figure because some names came late because some parents and guardians were hiding PWDs. We found out that the greatest number was of people with physical disability which was 223 out of the 377.

“The visually impaired are 24, those with hearing and talking impairments are 17 and those with albinism are five. Males are 225, while 152 are females. We found out that those with hearing impairments have never received formal sign language education and they rely on sub-standard sigh language.”

Mr Kondowe said 138 out of the 377 do not have identification documents, with only nine having birth certificates.
Mr David Jasi from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in the department of learner welfare, psychological services and special needs education said primary education for children with mental challenges ends at Grade 6.

“After grade 6, that pupil should proceed to a vocational training college to acquire skills like carpentry and sewing.” he said. “In the province, we don’t have such a college, we send them to Jairos Jiri, Homefields Centre.

“Children with other disabilities proceed to secondary education. In the province we don’t have a secondary school that accepts children with disabilities. We also don’t have secondary school teachers who can teach sign language in Bindura.”