As The US State Department 2023 Human Rights Report On Liberia Speaks Of Discrimination Against PwDs
By Abraham Kollie, kollieabraham23@gmail.com
Research conducted by the Liberia Blind Association (LBA) Youth Committee shows how persons living with disabilities (PwD) find it difficult to access higher institutions of learning in the country, especially visually impaired students who are seeking higher education.
The LBA, which is a nonprofit organization under the National Commission on Persons Living with Disabilities, has conducted research in three counties including Margibi, Bong, and Nimba.
The constitution forbids discrimination against persons with disabilities, but the 2023 US State Department Human Rights report on Liberia said that “these prohibitions were not always enforced.”
According to the US report issued recently, “persons with disabilities faced discrimination in employment, housing, and health care. Election ballots were not available in braille, but visually impaired voters could be accompanied by a helper in the voting booth.”
Mr. Emmanuel Nagbe, head of the committee told reporters that several universities across Liberia cannot provide easy access to various campuses and classes to people with visual impairments and wheelchair users.
According to the LBA report, Faculties and Lectures are not knowledgeable about providing and receiving people with visual impairment which is a significant barrier to their sector.
The LAB research report further indicates the accessibility of restrooms to female students with visual impairment and wheelchair users adding that such actions lead to low enrolment by PWDs at public and private universities across Liberia mentioning the United Nations Sustainable Goal number fourteen which talks about Quality and Inclusive Education for all.
The report however, highlighted challenges faced by the Ministry of Education to review the national curriculum to have a braille system included in the national curriculum for people with visual impairment.
“Our research work has shown numerous challenges faced by the Ministry of Education, this violates the Sustainable Development Goal number fourteen which talks about ‘Quality and Inclusive Education for all’. We feel that our sector is been lifted out intern of achieving quality education,” Mr. Nagbe added.
Meanwhile, Joe Mr. Moses Kpalah, head of the Liberia Christian Association of the Bland has called on the government of Liberia headed by President Joseph N. Boakia to have qualified persons with Disabilities in key areas such as Education, Health, Agriculture, and infrastructure development.
According to Kpalah, all university lecturers especially in Margibi County are finding it difficult to accommodate people with visual impairment stressing that there are less number of persons within their sector employed by the national government.
He added that higher institutions of learning such as Cuttington University Junior College in Kakata, Harbel College in Lower Margibi, and, Tutwanty College have few persons with Disabilities simply because there is no easy access to the facilities of the campus of those universities.
“I think the government needs to have qualified persons with Disabilities, especially in the educational sector to make some positive recommendations with PWDs about the barriers they are forced with because we know their problem” Kpalah explained.
Also speaking, John K. Mulbah, head of the group 72nd stressed the need for the government through the Ministry of Public Work to provide adequate awareness to various campuses to provide easy access to wheelchair users.
According to Mr. Mulbah, it has become a barrier to several wheelchair users at various campuses based on the construction and location.
“The Ministry of Public Work should be able to provide awareness, especially to higher institutions of learning, wheels chair users are challenged especially with the environment,” he added.
“We have observed and accept your recommendations, as head of the Margibi High School Principal Association, we will work in our possible way to address some of the challenges mentioned,” Mr. Anthony M. Jallah stated.
“The administration of Cuttington University has been in the know of some of the barriers faced by your sector especially people with visual impairment, as the university will try our possible way to ensure that a proper monitoring system is put in place for your sector to have easy access to all campus,” Mr. Terry Quoi explained.
The US State Department in its 2023 Human Rights Report on Liberia said: “The government did not provide information and communication on disability concerns in accessible formats. Sign language interpretation was often not provided for deaf persons in criminal proceedings or in the provision of state services.”
During a recent tour of counties, Education Minister Dr. Jaso Jallah stressed the need for an improved learning environment for all, including persons with disabilities.
According to the US report, “Persons with disabilities could not access education, health services, public buildings, and transportation on an equal basis with others. “
Minister Jallah further expressed dissatisfaction with several learning institutions not having access to people with visual impairment and wheelchair users.