DILI, 03 August 2023 ( TATOLI) – Director of the Timor – Leste Disability Association ( ADTL) Cesario da Silva, said over 8,000 people with disabilities have accessed to education in Timor – Leste.
“ADTL records in its database that around 8,000 persons with disabilities already have access to education in Timor-Leste. Different types of disabilities include Visual impairment, hearing loss, mental health conditions, intellectual disability, acquired brain injuries, autism spectrum disorders, and physical disabilities,” Silva told Tatoli in his Office in Mascarenhas Dili.
Silva said that although many people with disabilities have access to education, many continue to face problems getting to school.
For example, he said the majority of schools across Timor-Leste have physical barriers that potentially limit access for individuals with disabilities.
“Many public schools contained things like inaccessible door handles, steep ramps, no disabled toilets, and door vestibules that limit accessibility, while many schools have no brailer literacy including a shortage of teachers. But we thank the Ministry of Education for providing disabled people with access to education,” he said.
Responding to the challenges faced by students with disabilities, the Director of ADTL, Cesario da Silva asked the Ministry of Education to focus its attention on disabilities to ensure the quality of education for students with disabilities.
“We ask the Ministry of Education to pay attention to all the difficulties faced by disabled people in Timor-Leste to guarantee the quality of education based on the motto ‘Leave no one behind,” he concluded
Previously around 11 ministries had committed to finance programs for persons with disabilities in Timor-Leste. It was hoped that their commitment would be in line with the disability program to access inclusive education in Timor-Leste.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2021/09/18/around-4454-timorese-disabled-access-to-school-across-timor-leste/09/
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
