In July 2019, MIET AFRICA, in partnership with africa action/ Deutschland e.V. initiated the Inclusive Education in Action project in the Elandskop area of the Umgungundlovu Education District of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education. Eleven primary schools were selected in collaboration with the KZNDoE uMgungundlovu District Office to participate in the project, which aimed to build the capacity of the schools and district officials to consolidate and strengthen the province’s strategy on Inclusive Education (KZNDoE strategy). Nkabini Full-service School in Elandskop was the nodal school for development of the 10 other primary schools, one of which was also a full-service school (KwaMadlala Full-service school). This was articulated in the goal of the project: “White Paper 6 on inclusive schooling in South Africa by restructuring the school system and creating support structures will be implemented in Umgungundlovu District to enable IE for all”.
In terms of implementation, the MIET AFRICA conducted advocacy, followed by the training of School-Based Support Teams (SBSTs) and engagement with the parents of learners and the school communities. MIET AFRICA had a team of five on the ground: a training coordinator and four learner support agents (LSAs) who conducted the training and support activities. Specialist training and support consultants were brought in to assist in the capacity-building and support. They included an audiologist for screening for hearing barriers and a professional psychologist for psychosocial support. Both were state-registered practitioners.
The project implementation was interrupted by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and floods and severe conditions resulting in school closures in late 2019 and the whole of 2020. In 2021 with the decrease in the incidences of COVID, all partners met to decide on how to complete the project activities that were disrupted. The project was granted an extension to 31 December 2022, with some additional funds being made available the BMZ and Dohle Foundation.
By the end of 2022, all 11 schools in the project had established functional SBSTs, that were able to successfully screen, identify, assess, and support learners needing additional support. In 2022, over 100 learners from the schools were provided with psychosocial support, 85 learners were identified with hearing challenges and treated at the local clinics with a few receiving hearing aids, more than 20 learners with poor vision were identified and assisted with glasses, and five learners who had no documents were assisted by Home Affairs with birth certificates. Another 200 learners without birth certificate are awaiting appointments from Home Affairs to get their documents.
For more information contact Chris Ramdas chris@miet.coza