Uhuru pledges education reforms to cater for physically impaired

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday made a surprise visit to Joytown Secondary School for the physically handicapped where he reiterated the government’s commitment to reform the education sector in order to carter for the needs of students with disabilities.

President Kenyatta said the government will ensure that the reforms being undertaken in the education sector will streamline remuneration of teachers in schools and institution taking care of the disabled.

The president was fulfilling a pledge he had made a week ago to some students from the school who participated in the Seeing is Believing Initiative of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards and the President’s Award – Kenya held at the slopes of Mount Kenya.

He noted that the government will ensure all Kenyans get equal opportunities, saying it is not fair for disabled pupils to undertake the same exam with those who don’t suffer from any disability.

Two students in the school, Purity Wangare and Gabriel Mutua, recited moving poems in English and Kiswahili on why the government needs to consider giving special national exams to students with disabilities.

They said that physically disabled students are forced to do exams in the same format, specifically writing on paper, like other students even though they are limited by their physical state.

On his part the president said his government takes keen interest in the needs of the disabled, adding that the government had appointed a Principal Secretary in charge of special programmes to ensure they are fully catered for.

“There are many people outside doing wonderful jobs, in fact I have a disabled PS who is doing a fantastic job,” said the president.

Further adding, “We will do everything possible to support this institution and also you as individuals to gain employment or self-employment.”

He pledged to work in partnership with the school to expand its facilities and improve on its infrastructure.

The president who was accompanied by the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and other first family members gave various gifts to the school and cut a cake with the students and teachers.

The School’s principal, Leah Kamunye, thanked the president and his family for the surprise visit saying “It is a good Easter surprise.”

The school, which was started in 1980 with a population of 30 students, has expanded and currently hosts a population of 250 students.