Empowering girls with disabilities in Uganda: The importance of inclusive education

The 3rd December 2018 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, in which the rights of those with disabilities are promoted, as well as increasing awareness of disability in all aspects of life. Disability inclusion is a top priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), recognising that we cannot end poverty without reaching people with disabilities and that all people – whatever their abilities – should have decent access to services, opportunities and to make their distinctive contribution.

The UK government’s flagship education programme, the Girls' Education Challenge (GEC) is committed to ensuring that girls with disabilities can access a quality education to improve their life chances, as well as reducing poverty. Girls with disabilities are less likely than girls without disabilities to access education. Learning from the GEC shows these barriers may include social stigma, negative misconceptions, an absence of infrastructure, a lack of trained staff and an increased risk of violence. As a result, the GEC works to ensure transformative change for girls, their families and their communities, including girls with disabilities to ensure they have safe and quality access to an education.  

In Uganda, a GEC-funded project implemented by Cheshire Services Uganda is empowering girls with disabilities through education. The project is working to improve the teaching and learning environment for 2,000 girls with disabilities in mainstream schools, through a range of activities. However, getting girls into school is only the first step. Providing a supportive learning environment with good quality teaching is crucial to ensure that every girl achieves academic success and improves her life chances. As such, during the lifetime of the project, 4,000 teachers are receiving training in delivering inclusive education, to ensure girls can access and participate in a quality education.

Bernadette, Linnet and Mercy are three school girls and beneficiaries of the GEC project. Bernadette was enrolled to the project with a severe case of rickets which caused her a lot of pain in her lower limbs, making it difficult for her to walk to school every day.

“My legs used to pain me a lot, and my home is very far from school so walking was very hard for me. I used to come to school like twice in a week. After I got help from Cheshire, I no longer feel pain and I can attend school throughout the week and I have many friends.” 

Linnet, having only one lower limb was finding it difficult to access her school.

“When I started coming to school, at first I used to just hop with one leg. When I’m tired I sit down and rest, so I would come to school very late or I just go back home. With the way you people have helped me, I have no worries. I promise to be a doctor to support people like me.” 

Mercy with hydrocephalus was mostly bullied by fellow learners about the size of her head. This led to Mercy dropping out of school for one term until the project intervened and she was able to return. 

“There are children who used to laugh at me and call me names like “Mutwe” (big head). I used to hate coming to school. I would leave home and pretend that I’m coming to school and hide in the bush till lunchtime, then I go back home. I thank God that with your support (GEC), at least now, no one calls me those names any more. They are all my friends and I love being at school. I want to study hard and become a nurse.” 

Before their involvement in the project, all three girls were struggling to attend school because of their disabilities. The GEC project has provided the means for the girls, their classmates, their teachers and the immediate physical environment to accommodate and adjust for their disability. This has consisted of physiotherapy and assistive devices for the girls, tuition, school materials, transport, as well as training sessions for teachers and other children in the schools, to raise awareness about disability within the school environment. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Empowering Girls with Disabilities in Uganda through Education is a project within the UK Aid-funded Girls’ Education Challenge. Cheshire Services Uganda is implementing the project in Greater Kampala, Uganda, from 2017-2024, more information can be found here.