25th Annual Student Research Conference
Barriers to Education Among Disabled Children in South Africa and Prospects for Improvement
Margaret E. Loehnig
Dr. Elaine McDuff, Faculty Mentor
Eighteen years after the end of apartheid, many disabled children of South Africa continue to face numerous barriers to receiving a decent education, which limits their future occupational prospects and adversely affects their health. Reasons for poor school attendance are diverse, and include the lack of suitable curriculum for disabled children, parental inability to afford an education for their child, and denial of admission to school on the basis of disability. Teachers are often not qualified to teach disabled children, and buildings are frequently not equipped to meet their special needs. South Africa defends the rights of the disabled on paper; however, the government fails to successfully implement the strategies it has devised. Improvements must be made at both local and national levels. Ultimately, the government of South Africa must face its failures and implement stricter policies, rather than optional guidelines, protecting the basic human rights of all disabled children.
Keywords: South Africa, disabled, children, education, barriers
Topic(s):Democracy and Human Rights in South Africa
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 101-4
Location: VH 1324
Time: 8:30