Promoting education for visually impaired

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane last week highlighted the exceptional abilities of visually impaired persons in the country and said the Ministry has initiated programs to improve the education of over 10,000 visually handicapped schoolchildren from all parts of the country.

He said he has already directed Zonal Education Officials to carry out a survey on visually handicapped children in their areas.

According to statistics, over 10,000 visually handicapped children, between the ages of six to 16, are presently studying at Government schools. Some children have stopped their education due to various social reasons.

Minister Gunawardane was addressing a function at Meepe Madya Maha Vidyalaya in the Homagama Educatioanal Zone.

The event was organised by the Sri Lanka National Federation of Visually Handicapped (SLNFVH).

The Minister also stated the importance of developing the education of visually handicapped children, since most of these children have special inborn abilities and talents and can be partners of the country's future development activities.

Minister Gunawardane said, there are six schools in the country which provide education for visually handicapped children. Many such children have also been given an opportunity to continue their education with other children in normal schools in Colombo and the outstations.

"This helps visually handicapped children to broaden their knowledge by keeping close contacts with other children," he said.

The Minister also mentioned the invaluable service rendered by the Ratmalana Blind School to uplift the educational and extra-curricular activities of blind children and said this school has produced a number of important citizens. He said under a program implemented by the Education Ministry, blind children are provided with educational equipment, including Braille books, computers and special sports equipment.