SEEPD Program equips Teachers on Inclusive Practices in School
Over 30 staff from the CBC Inclusive School and Sign Language Centre (ISSLC) Mbingo, Inclusive School and Braille Centre (ISBC) Kumbo and their referral schools in collaboration with the Socio-Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disability (SEEPD) Program of the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services have developed strategies on how to effectively practice inclusion in their various schools. A 3-day workshop organized by the SEEPD Program from August 24-26, 2022 at the Baptist Center Nkwen, Bamenda, sanctioned the workshop.
According to the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Supervisor, Mr. Kenchi Joseph, the aim of the workshop was to enhance technical capacities of the resource teachers for effective inclusionary practices under the theme, “Leaving no learner behind in the teaching-learning process”. He also drilled teachers on best strategies that teachers could use to include learners with low vision in the teaching and learning process. Amongst the strategies, is for the teachers to move students with low vision impairment closer to the board, or increase the font size of the lesson being presented.
On their part, the head teachers shared their experiences in practicing inclusion in their various schools. The head teacher of the ISSLC Mbingo, Ndosak Solomon noted that the school has a resource room where teachers can further acquire skills on how to include learners with hearing impairment in their lessons. A teacher from the ISBC Kumbo, Mrs. Menn Susan disclosed that the Braille school has registered successes except for the challenge that some of the children still have difficulties in learning with their peers with visual impairment. Mr. Che Manasseh guided the participants to watch a video of how other schools in Zanzibar practice inclusive education.
One of the main facilitators, Mrs. Fobuzie Briget in her presentations, emphasized that learners with disabilities have the right to education like their peers without disabilities. She also shed light on how the teachers could manage a class with children that have orthopedic or mobility impairment. Mrs. Fobuzie also schooled the teachers on the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). She noted that the UDL is a method of teaching that gives all students an equal opportunity to succeed. This has as goal to use a variety of teaching methods to remove any barriers to learning so that all children, no matter the impairment will make it.
Earlier on at the start of the workshop, the Program Officer for the Socio-Economic empowerment of Persons with Disability, Mr. Loshie Eugene drilled the participants on the concepts of disability and the models of disability. He mentioned that, there are four models of disability beginning with the medical model, charity model, social model and the right base model.
Present at the workshop was the Supervisor for Child Protection in the CBC Health Services, Nsono Josephine who also drilled the participants on child safeguarding. She explained that teachers should guide their children in school and together with the parents through the Parents Teachers Association monitor, what they watch online and in turn practice at school and home. They should equally ensure that teachers do not perpetrate acts of violence on the children in school.
In an interview with some of the participants, they testified that the workshop was timely given that they have acquired skills that will help them better practice inclusion this academic year.
At the close of the workshop, the SEEPD Program Manager, Mr. Awa Jacques Chirac congratulated the teachers for their efforts made towards achieving the goal of inclusion. He equally thanked the workshop organizers for such a wonderful job that was done. He encouraged the teachers not to be discouraged and to pull on with the work of inclusion in their various schools.
This workshop was organized with support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program.