. Dr Phiri

By MILDRED KATONGO –

THE ZAMBIA Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) has said the move by Government to scrap off grade 12 examination fees for persons with disabilities shows its commitment to provide free access to education.

General Education Minister John Phiri said over the weekend that Government had with immediate effect exempted all grade 12 school-going children with special needs from paying examinations fees.

And ZAPD board chairperson Julien Mwape said the organisation was humbled by the gesture which indicated that Government was committed to reduce illiteracy levels among persons with disabilities.

Ms Mwape said in an interview that the move also meant that Government was implementing the Disability Act by bringing services closer to the disabled community.

She said the examination fees were one of the barriers people living with disabilities faced in accessing education services.

Ms Mwape said 70 per cent of people living with disabilities lived under the poverty datum line making it difficult for them to access education services because of not having financial support.

“We, welcome the move by Government to exempt grade 12 school-going children with special needs from paying examination fees. The move indicates that Government was committed to improving the lives of the disabled.

We are humbled and happy that our children will be able to write their examinations without any difficulties,” she said.

Ms Mwape said education played a vital role in every person’s life including the disabled as it reduced poverty.

She said the move would break the poverty cycle as many disabled children would be able to write their examinations and complete their education.

Ms Mwape commended Government and urged it to continue uplifting the living standards of the disabled.

She said people living with disabilities should be allowed to access services such as health and education as they had the same rights as others in society.