INCLUSIVE EDUCATION DIRECTORATE HOSTS ANNUAL MEC OUTREACH PROGRAMME TO SUPPORT LEARNERS WITH BARRIERS TO LEARNING

The Eastern Cape Department of Education’s Inclusive Education Directorate recently hosted its Annual MEC Outreach Programme across the OR Tambo Coastal, OR Tambo Inland, and Amathole West districts.

Since its launch in 2019, the Bonke Ngabethu Outreach Programme, initiated by the Office of the MEC, has been a vital platform for delivering essential educational support services and advocating for the rights of learners who face significant barriers to learning — particularly those who have dropped out of school due to undiagnosed or unidentified challenges.

The outreach programme aims to introduce inclusive education initiatives to local communities, raise public awareness, and provide specialized therapeutic assessments and oral healthcare to learners experiencing learning difficulties.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Thabiso Pethuka, CEO of the Disability Economic Empowerment Trust (DEET), emphasized the importance of the programme:

“This annual initiative targets learners who require assessments in various developmental areas, including oral health, which is provided through our partnership with DEET. It ensures that parents do not have to pay for services that the Department offers free of charge, delivered by our team of psychologists and therapists.”

The Department remains committed to implementing Inclusive Education policies that guarantee equal access to quality education for all learners. The outreach is aligned with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s vision of a society where disability is not a barrier to success, as well as the principles of White Paper 6 on Inclusive Education and Training.

Advocacy is also a cornerstone of this initiative. By championing stronger policies at local, provincial, and national levels, the Department seeks to ensure that inclusion is supported through adequate funding, legislation, and rights protection for all learners.

Rodney Sekgobela, Senior Education Therapist Specialist, highlighted the specific objectives of the outreach:

“Over a dedicated four-day period in the OR Tambo Coastal, OR Tambo Inland, and Amathole East districts, our teams aim to screen and assess approximately 400 learners. This process is crucial for identifying previously undiagnosed learning challenges.”

The outreach is a collaborative effort, made possible through partnerships with DEET and the mobilisation of a multidisciplinary team of specialists from the Department, including educational psychologists, audiologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists.

Inclusive education is about creating an environment where every child belongs. It enables learners of all abilities to learn and grow together, improving both academic outcomes and social skills. While challenges remain, collaboration, practical strategies, and a strong vision continue to drive progress toward a more inclusive education system for all learners in the Eastern Cape.