From Bakah Derick in Bamenda
The
Sustainable Inclusive Education project SIEP of the Cameroon Baptist
Convention’s Education Department and the Health Services has opened an
inclusive education resources center in Bamenda.
The center located within the
premises of the Cameroon Baptist Convention headquarters Nkwen Bamenda was dedicated
and opened Tuesday July 2 at the close of the second stakeholders committee
meeting in the presence of basic, secondary education and social affairs
delegates for the North West region.  |
| Cutting of ribbon to symbolize official opening |
Presenting
the resources center at the opening event, the CBC Education Secretary who
doubles as the Sustainable Inclusive Education project Director, Mr Nyanganji
Job explained that the center intends to offer every child with or without
disability the opportunity to learn, be in school, and enrol on time in other
to have the lifelong opportunities children without disabilities have. He
presented the center with six classrooms (pending complete equipping)
accessible to all with internal mini rams that permit children with
disabilities to access the chalk board. “At that end you have the resource
room. That is the core of the resource center. The equipment there will be used
for the rest of the center by the pilot schools.” He said adding that the rest
rooms have been designed slightly different from is commonly seen around which
is spacious and provides enough passage for persons with disabilities PWDs with
wheel chairs.
Prior to the
cutting of the symbolic ribbon by government, CBC education and health
authorities, the Senior Pastor of the Nkwen Baptist Church the Rev Njini Eward
with inspiration from the biblical books of proverbs, challenged the caretakers
and managers of the resources center to do so with care for blessing so as not
to attract a curse as instructed by the bible text. He used the dedication to
pray together with the Rev Abanda Chaplain of the Baptist High School Nkwen
that the graduates from “the center will make a difference.”
According to
the SIEP Education Advisor who also doubles as Education Advisor for the
Socio-Economic Empowerment of persons with Disabilities SEEPD program of the
CBCHS Bridget Longla Forbuzie, the resources center which has equipment like recorders,
computers, visual assess path, 3
in 1 photocopier, scanners, embossers for brail,
internet facilities amongst others is
very relevant. “The center is quite relevant and may I say that it is not
solely for learners with impairments but is for every learner and every
teacher.” She said adding that “the computers in the center can be used by
everybody as teachers can come to type lessons and exams including internet
facility which is a good resource for teachers who can come here and carry out
research on anything about the teaching and learning process especially the
teaching and learning of children with impairments and I think they will have
lot of ideas on how to plan and prepare and even deliver their lessons to the
students.”
The
Education Advisor on the computer and internet facility for teachers also noted
that “once lessons are planned, prepared and delivered with children with
disabilities CWDs in mind, everybody benefits because you looks at the range of
disabilities and then you look at their learning styles. Some people learn
visually, some learn by listening, some learn by doing we call them
kinaesthetic learners and some combine the different learning styles as a
kinaesthetic learner may also be a visual learner and may also be an oratory
learner and so while teachers have that in mind and prepare their lessons along
those lines everybody benefits. We are talking here about universal design
right from the start it is important for teachers to know that there is a
diverse range of students in their classes and whether they have impairments or
not, they all learn differently.”
The
computers she added will have software called Board maker which is a symbol
writer which will allow those using the computers to see pictures of everything
they type. The brail embosser which
described as a wonderful technology will facilitate the production of exams and
test items for learners who are blind in a good quantity within a short time.
The 3 in 1 photocopier she concluded has the possibility of enlarging text for
those with low vision who will not be able to read fine print.
Samuel Nyingchuo
of the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities CUAPWDS
and Nognong Armelle A of North West Association for Women with Disabilities
have thanked the SIEP project particularly the Lilian Foundation and CBC
Education and Health Services for considering the plight of PWDs with such a
resources center. They have promised to make maximum use of the facility.
Wilfred
Wambeng NW Regional Delegate for Basic Education on behalf of the government
ministries present at the opening and dedication has praised the CBCHS and the
education department for taking such a giant step promising government support
and commitment to ensure the centers stays useful.
On behalf of
the Director of CBC Health Health Services Prof Tih Pius Muffih chairperson of
the SIEP stakeholders committee, Awa Jacque Chirac congratulated the project
team assuring that the health services will in the days ahead be bringing more
equipment to make the center complete as expected.
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