The gov’t is taking measures to ensure that disabled kids receive proper education.

“The rights of children with disabilities: A duty to be protected, respected, promoted and achieved”, is the theme of the 22^nd edition of the Day of the African Child (JEA) to be celebrated come June 16. As children in Cameroon prepare to commemorate the day, Cameroon-Tribune brings to lights efforts being carried out by government to ensure that the rights of disabled children to proper education are respected. In spite of the efforts, some of the disabled children, particularly the blind, say more still needs to be done especially when writing official examinations alongside children who are not blind.

However, Cameroon’s Ministry of Social Affairs has not left any stone unturned to enforce laws with regards to children in general and children with disabilities in particular. The ratification by government of international laws on the protection of children, amongst which is the United Nations Convention on the rights of the child (1993), the African Charter on the Rights and the Welfare of the Child (1997) as well as the prorogation of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities. They all indicate government’s interest in ensuring that disabled children have access to proper education.

Within the dynamics of the “Greater Accomplishment” policy of social justice and national solidarity heralded by the President of the Republic, the Ministry of Social Affairs reinforced legal and institutional framework in favour of children with disabilities. There has been the continuation of the operational process of the Cardinal Paul Emile Leger National Center for the Rehabilitation of Disabled persons with a specific school for disabled children. Besides, there has also been the development of a “Practical Guide” on the accessibility of young persons with disabilities to education.

The signing of joint circular letters by the Ministry of Secondary Education and the Ministry of Social Affairs which aims at facilitating the admission of students with disabilities as well as the granting of yearly subvention to special private institutions such as those handling children with hearing, mental and visual problems, all form the package to help disabled children. In spite of these efforts to curb difficulties faced by disabled children in their educational field, the children say they still face challenges. Not only are some of the special schools far from their localities where they reside but there is great need for qualified teachers in their field.