The Namibia University of Science and Technology in the future will develop academic programmes on Disability Studies

NUST was approached by the Department of Disability Affairs in the Office of the Vice-President, to develop academic programmes on Disability Studies. NUST has partnered with JLU Giessen to map a way forward in this regard, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) and national development priorities.

An analysis of the implementation of inclusive education in Namibia, conducted by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, together with UNICEF, highlighted the challenges faced by children with disabilities in the Namibian education system.

These include: implementation of the curriculum, negative attitudes towards disability and special needs in education, inaccessible infrastructure, and lack of access to appropriate teaching and learning technologies and cultural practices.

“Several graduation ceremonies for Entrepreneurship Training Programme for Persons with Disabilities offered by NUST’s Centre for Enterprise Development are held annually. “

“I am pleased to see that NUST has been responsive to addressing the needs of people with disabilities in the immediate community and beyond,” remarked Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Hon Alexia Manombe-Ncube.

She further highlighted that 87% of Namibian children with disabilities between the ages of 0-4 years have never attended early childhood development (ECD) programmes and the proportion of persons with disabilities aged from 5 years and above that never attended school is also alarmingly high.

The symposium was well attended with NUST and JLU committing to supporting research and collaboration efforts going forward.