A mainstream school teacher, who became visually impaired after his appointment as a teacher, says the Basic Education Department would not have hired him had he been blind prior to his appointment. The teacher was speaking during a march by visually impaired teachers, who matched to the Basic Education Department in Pretoria to protest against
A mainstream school teacher, who became visually impaired after his appointment as a teacher, says the Basic Education Department would not have hired him had he been blind prior to his appointment.
The teacher was speaking during a march by visually impaired teachers, who matched to the Basic Education Department in Pretoria to protest against unfair discrimination and not being prioritised for employment as educators.
Visually impaired educators have marched to the Education Department’s office in Pretoria where they handed over a memorandum of grievances.
They say they are forced into early retirement, have limited opportunities and are not being promoted to leadership roles, among others.
Itumeleng Molete, who became visually impaired after being appointed as an educator, says he was fortunate enough to have been absorbed into the system before he lost his sight.
42-year-old Rebone Mogale, who possesses a bachelor’s degree in education, says it’s hard finding employment as an educator. She says while she’s been shortlisted for interviews, she hardly succeeds due to her visual impairment.
Visually impaired educators have marched to the Education Department’s office in Pretoria where they handed over a memorandum of grievances.
They say they are forced into early retirement, have limited opportunities and are not being promoted to leadership roles, among others.
They’ve given the department 30 days to respond to their memorandum.
According to Blind SA, approximately 97% of visually impaired South Africans are unemployed. That’s despite them being capable of holding jobs in most industries.
Rebone and Itumeleng joined a group of unemployed visually impaired educators in the march to the Basic Education Department to voice their discontent.
They’ve given the department 30 days to respond to their memorandum.
“Since we have studied the same qualification with people who have sight using the same classes, and same lecturers, it means that I have acquired the same knowledge that they have acquired. So, it means that I’m also capable as they are capable. There’s unfair discrimination in our specific schools. For example, I am in a mainstream school, and we don’t get sufficient support. We are saying to the Department of Education, please. We are not sick, we are differently abled. We need their support.”
Original Story by www.sabcnews.com
