By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, February 20, Mana:  Lack of disability friendly structures at Kalambwe Primary School in Nkhata Bay is said to be preventing learners with disabilities from performing to their full potential.

The school's head teacher Florida Kampira made the revelation on Monday when Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) donated writing materials to 60 learners with and without disabilities, as one way of promoting inclusive education.

Kampira said the school is also grappling with lack of teaching and learning materials for learners with disabilities.

"Our school is a combination of learners with and without disabilities. However, the environment is a bit challenging since there is inadequate teaching and learning materials and disability unfriendly infrastructure which is negatively impacting learners with disabilities.

"Learners with disabilities are capable of achieving great things but they are often bullied and suffer from inferiority due to discouraging sentiments regarding their disabilities. We are thankful to Macoha for always remembering them,” Kampira said.

In his remarks, a 12-year-old standard seven learners with disability, Hope Phiri, said they fight for the available little resources, such as braille books and some struggle to enter classes that have stairs instead of lumps.

Assistant Rehabilitation Officer for Macoha in Nkhata Bay, Matatiyo Chirambo, said they are advocating for community based inclusive development in which education is one of the components and they are set to assist about 200 learners with disabilities in the district with writing materials.