Course books modeled for special needs learners

Course books for Grade Five learners are being adapted to suit the needs of learners with special needs, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has said.

KICD Senior Deputy Director in-charge of Curriculum Development, Jacqueline Onyango yesterday said this follows successful development and approval of the curriculum support materials that will be used in schools from July, when implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) moves to Grade Five.

“The rationale for adapting the books is to meet diverse needs of various categories of learners with special needs so that they can also enjoy learning and access quality education, as their counterparts without disabilities,” said Onyango, in a statement.

The learners set to benefit from the curriculum support materials include those with hearing, visual and physical impairment.

She said that the adaptation process is led by subject secretaries who are curriculum developers from KICD and whose role is to guide a team of panels in checking what needs to be adjusted in the textbooks that have been approved for regular learners.

The subject areas that each panel is dealing with include; Maths; English; Kiswahili; Science and Technology; Home science; Agriculture; Social studies; Physical and Health Education; Art and Craft; Music; Braille and the Kenyan Sign language.

The adaptation of the course materials is being spearheaded by curriculum experts drawn from the Ministry of Education, KICD, Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) and teachers from special needs education schools.

“This exercise has also brought on board curriculum implementers who are persons with disabilities. They believe nothing for us without us,” Onyango said.

Onyango who represented the KICD chief executive Prof Charles Ong’ondo said the right to education for learners with special needs cannot be relegated to the periphery in the guise that additional resources are needed to accommodate their needs.

“The constitution recognises and places all learners at the centre of education and there is no reason to disadvantage others on the basis of how they were born.

They deserve quality education as the rest,” She explained.  Isaiah Kuyo, a teacher from Kumbi Primary School in Tana River and a participating in the visual impairment panel handling Music said incorporating people living with disabilities in the activity would guarantee quality.

“Only the wearer knows where the shoes pinches. So we are the right people to recommend the modifications that need to be done on the books,” Mr Kuyo who is suffering from visual impairment, said.

KICD is optimistic that the adapted books will be ready before re-opening of schools in July so that both regular learners and those under special needs education, benefit.

“We want course materials for all learners including those with special needs. We shall deliver the books in good time so that no learner feels left out,” Mrs Onyango said.

The panels working on the materials for learners with disabilities must be guided by the adapted grade five curriculum designs, to remain relevant with curriculum requirements.

 “It is all about the child and what they are able to do. Otherwise the adaptation will be null and void if you don’t think about the learner’s potential and capabilities,” said Grace Ngugi Maina, the Deputy Director, Special programmes at KICD.