PHOTO: A group of Teachers living with disabilities presenting a petition
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
Teachers Living with Disabilities under the banner Inclusive Educators of Liberia or IEL has petition the Minister of Education on several issues affecting the education of persons living with Disabilities including teachers living with disabilities.
Inclusive Educators of Liberia or IEL is a nonpolitical movement founded on April 13, 2024 by few visually impaired instructors to assemble all instructors living with disabilities in Liberia to take on the responsibility in advocating for equal employment for all qualify teachers living with disabilities in order to break the chain of discrimination.
According to the group, over the years, teachers living with disabilities have be denied opportunities to employment, thereby reducing many of them to mere street beggars in spite of their determination in acquiring teachers’ education.
Speaking Monday April 22, 2024 at a peaceful assembly on the grounds of Ministry of Education, the group spokesperson Z. Wilfred Gewon noted that teachers living with disabilities has also being denied positions that should be occupied by disabled educators.
“Moreover, positions that are to be occupied by disabled educators are currently occupied by non- disabled persons which we see as an affront,” Mr. Gewon said.
He however, on behalf the group called on government that qualify teachers living with disabilities be identified for possible employment and subsequently be assigned to various public schools and special school across Liberia.
“The principal of Liberia School for the Blind be replace for his failure to employ visually impaired teachers under the of eleven years and that the Bureau of Special and Inclusive Education within the Ministry be occupied by quality disabled Individuals” He concluded.
Gewon maintained that the act that established the National Commission on Disabilities states that four qualify disabled persons should occupy three positions, director and three program office.
They are however recommending that all special Schools that were remove illegally from from the Ministry of Education subsides by the past Minister to be reconsider and place back on the subsidy thereby calling on the Ministry to award International Scholarship opportunity to all teachers and students with disabilities.
In response, the assistant Minister for general administration at the Ministry of Education Ericson W. Boakai promised to present the petition to the minister upon her arrival in the country.
According to Boakai, the Minister is currently out of the country for official duty and she is expected to return any time this week.
Boakai noted that educators living with disabilities will no longer be left out but urged them to be patient as they work with the minister in collaboration with the government to address their concern.
Teachers Living with Disabilities under the banner Inclusive Educators of Liberia has however promised to visit all government Ministries and Agencies to demand a representation from the Disabled community.