KwaZulu-Natal school for special needs have been awarded 15 specialised school buses.
Parents and pupils with special needs in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) were elated as they recieved the new buses that suited their needs.
According to the Basic Education Deputy Minister, Reginah Mhaule and KZN Education MEC, Kwazi Mshengu, 20 more special schools would also receive the special buses by the end of the year.
The schools’ authorities stated that 124 buses have been provided by the department.
They also revealed that about 7,000 pupils with special needs at 74 specialised schools needed scholar transportation.
More than 20,000 pupils are currently enrolled at special needs schools in KZN.
The provincial education department disclosed its plan to spend R48 million to purchase more buses so that more special students would benefit from it.
MEC Mshengu said “the aim is to make sure that we give what is due to the learners with special needs.”
“We don’t want them to feel as of they are charity cases, and that we only attend to them once we are done with the rest.”
The students were excited with this intervention.
Asiphe Nobekwa, who is a deaf pupil at Schola Amoris Special School in Umzinto said he was happy that the buses were allocated to special needs school.
S’mangele Mthethwa translated his signs, he said “I feel happy because it’s the first time I see government supporting special schools.”
Mshengu also added that specialised wheelchairs could also be supplied soon to special needs schools to aid learning.
This morning Deputy Minister Dr. Reginah Mhaule attended an event where busses were handed over to Schola Amoris Special School. This is a landmark event which helps us to fulfill our obligation to leave no child behind. pic.twitter.com/3V0b0K4mWk
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) September 3, 2020
