Should They Be Excluded? Adult Education and Adult Persons with Disability in Swaziland

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Date
2010-11
Authors
Dlamini, Shokahle R
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Abstract

One of the guiding principles governing Special Education in Swaziland is that education programmes shall be designed and offered to children with special needs such as physical disabilities, visual and auditory impairment, mental disabilities, social and behavioural problems as well as gifted children. Conversely, very limited special needs education is provided in Swaziland to both the young and old people with disability. There are only three Special Education schools namely; Ekwetsembeni which takes care of the mentally - handicapped, Siteki School of the deaf and St Joseph’s, which caters for other physical and learning disabilities. Worst still, this principle completely excludes adult persons with the same disabilities which are clearly spelt out by the same guiding principle, thus depriving them of the opportunity to acquire education. Without education, disabled adult persons in Swaziland continue to be marginalized, discriminated against and excluded from mainstream activities. Using life histories of disabled adult people, this paper raises awareness on the plight of the disabled adults in Swaziland. It demonstrates that most disabled adult Swazis live under very deplorable conditions. The paper further examines the purpose and objectives of adult education in the development of the Swazi nation. It also suggests ways through which the livelihood of adult disabled persons could be improved. Amongst the suggestions made, Adult education is given as the last hope for adult persons with disability.

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Subject
Formal Education,Open Schooling,Adult Education,Disabilities,Livelihoods
Country
Swaziland
Region
Africa
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