27 August 2015
The Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, said the Department of Higher Education and Training is taking interest in the needs of learners with disabilities, especially around suitable career choices and adequate funding to increase the number of the disabled student population in all sectors.
“At the moment, the proportion of disabled students is roughly estimated to be less than 1% of the total student population in the PSET sector – which is a far cry of the Department’s target,” Deputy Minister said.
He said the purpose of the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities programme is to expose career opportunities within the PSET to learners with disabilities and further share with them funding opportunities. “The Department’s intention is to mainstream issues of persons with disabilities in the PSET,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said ‘the Department through its entity NSFAS has dedicated funds to target learners who would like to pursue their studies within the PSET. Disability funding exists to enable reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities and for procuring special equipment, devices and technology.
Research shows that the majority of students with disabilities continue to experience discrimination in the PSET sector. Issues of access, institutional practices that have failed to consider the learning needs of persons with disabilities and their support needs thereof, continue to be a barrier to this sector.
