•Mwanja

By Christine Mwaaba –

HE remains dedicated and passionate about his dream to become a teacher despite being sightless.
A chat with 30-year-old Emmanuel Mwanja makes one realise what it is like to be a learner who is visually impaired schooling in an unconventional area and beating the odds.
Emmanuel is a third-year student at Chipata College of Education pursuing a course in primary school teaching.
Being blind has not discouraged him to follow his childhood dream of becoming a teacher.
This author had a chance to catch up with Emmanuel and find out what it is like to be a blind student in a leaning institution where the majority of the students are sighted.
He explains that it has not been easy for him to reach where he is now and adds that he is determined to make a difference to several more lives in a similar predicament
Emmanuel has kept his dream of becoming a primary school teacher alive, endured a debilitating disability and shows no signs of being visually impaired.
There is one element that shines strongly in Emmanuel’s life in spite of the fact that he became fully blind at the age of five.
He has expanded his scope and capabilities, as a way of making a difference to society.
Struggling with fear as a young child was inevitable when Emmanuel lost sight.
The worry and agony that comes with going blind is simply a nightmare for any individual, worse-off for a child.
Learning to do things without sight after becoming fully blind became terrible.
It was only after receiving encouragement from his parents that he realised that there was room to lead a full and positive life even when one was blind.
This positive mindset that was instilled in him by his parents is what has given him the drive to achieve his dream of becoming a primary school teacher.
His string of achievements dates back to when he enrolled at St Muluba School for the Blind in Southern Province to get back on his feet after accepting his situation.
He then went to Munali Secondary School in Lusaka but, unfortunately, he left because, according to him, little attention was being paid to the needs of pupils with special needs.
Afterward he opted to enroll at Ndala Primary School for the Blind on the Copperbelt where he did his eighth and ninth grades.
He says it was quite easy to learn at the Ndala school because the environment was conducive for people like him.
He completed his O level education at Mumbwa Secondary School, Central Province.
Emmanuel says despite his future plans looking bleak at the time because of his inability to perform certain tasks, this did not make him lose hope in life.
It was after completing his secondary education that he began to view life differently and adds that problems come to heroes so that they can overcome them.
This thought is what motivated him to enroll at Chipata School of education were he is pursuing a course in primary school teaching.
“Right now am pursuing my Diploma in Primary School Teaching” he said.
The determined student teacher is an exceptional learner who despite being blind is determined to achieve his goal.
“People who are visually impaired can succeed in their chosen field” he says.
Emmanuel says that the fact that he is blind does not mean that he can not contribute to the development of the nation.
He noted that it is important that people with special needs get trained like the able persons and examined on the same learning materials.
This is why learning materials for the visually impaired should be transcribed so they too can be able to read.
In addition, various technological devices can be put in place to facilitate training for the disabled.
He emphasized the need to have inclusive education to discourage discrimination of people with learning needs.
“Let learning be done together.
“My fellow learners are amazed to see me with my disability coming into class because I have adapted to the environment the geography of the school I have mastered the school grounds and enables  me to move around without any assistance” he said.
He noted that it is easy for the visually impaired to learn if the class notes are transcribed into braille.
He adds that accessibility, being able to use computers as effectively as a sighted person, is also fundamental to individuals who are blind.
He says people with a visual impairment need a screen reading provision so that they can also access information on the Internet.
“Internet technologies have the potential to give persons with disabilities the means to live on a more equitable basis within the global community”, he said.
Emmanuel says apart from accessibility, other barriers need to be highlighted so that persons with disabilities can gain and benefit from the Internet and contribute to technological advancement.
Having turned into a triumphant student teacher, Emmanuel has become a person with limited sight but unlimited vision to advance his studies in teaching.
Like a seed that will grow into a tree to benefit a lot of people, Emmanuel embodies perseverance and grit, and looks at life positively despite a disability that was testing his ability to contribute effectively to the nation’s economic development.