Social affairs minister drums need for inclusive education.

The campaign calls on families, communities, and stakeholders to champion the education of children with disabilities.

The press briefing was attended by senior officials of the ministry, among whom were the Secretary General, Panje Itoe Beryl, and the Inspector General, Valentine Foreke. A partner of the ministry, the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, represented by its Director, Ngum Samuel, was also present. 

This year’s edition is celebrated under the theme: “School for All: The Promotion of Education Technology to Advance Inclusive Education”.

Speaking at the press briefing, Minister Irene Nguene emphasized that inclusive education is a fundamental human right and not a privilege. 

“Schools should no longer be places of exclusion but spaces of openness and opportunity for every child, regardless of their disability,” she declared. 

She drew attention to alarming global statistics, noting that 90% of children with disabilities do not attend school, amounting to over 33 million children, predominantly in the poorest parts of the world, including Africa. 

“In response, Cameroon is intensifying its efforts to ensure that no child is left behind,” she said. 

She said the focus of this year’s campaign is the promotion of assistive education technologies, EdTech, which enable children with disabilities to access learning on equal terms with their peers. 

She said the technologies include adaptive software that helps learners organise their thoughts, text-to-speech and speech recognition tools for visually impaired or mobility-restricted learners, talking calculators and clocks, alternative input devices for digital inclusion, accessible e-learning platforms, and interactive whiteboards that encourage classroom participation for all learners.

The minister said the tools reduce sensory, physical, and cognitive barriers, support individualised teaching, and empower both students and teachers.

She also used the presser to highlight progress made under the national inclusive education strategy. 

“Since 2016, enrolment of children with disabilities has increased by 5%, with more than 1,440 learners with disabilities now enrolled across all levels of education. Significant steps include the creation of 720 nursery and primary schools in every subdivision, the validation of the National Inclusive Education Policy in October 2024, and the integration of specialised training into teacher education curricula in line with Decree No. 2023/434,” she disclosed.  

She said many schools have been upgraded with ramps, adapted furniture, and accessible toilets, and many councils provided minimum packages of specialised teaching materials. She added that support for children with disabilities also extends beyond the classroom. 

“Financial allowances and examination fee exemptions are granted to learners with disabilities and those from disadvantaged families with disabilities. At the higher education level, students benefit from total or partial tuition waivers. Preferential measures have been instituted to ease access to official examinations and national competitions for students with special needs,” the minister stated.

To further step up efforts, she said the ministry has strengthened partnerships with institutions such as the Ministry of Basic Education and the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services.

“Technical and financial partnerships with organisations including Sightsavers, CBM, Fairmed, and UNFPA have significantly boosted resource mobilisation and implementation capacity,” she said. 

She said a virtual conference will be organised to present practical EdTech solutions, particularly for learners with visual and hearing impairments.

Minister Irene Nguene urged families to enroll and support their children, pleaded with teachers to receive them with kindness and patience, appealed to local authorities to mobilise community resources, and begged the media to amplify the voices of the unheard.

She was categorical that inclusive education is a national duty and a moral imperative. “School for all is now,” she concluded. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3449 of Thursday May 15, 2025