In Congo-Brazzaville, inclusive education opens new doors for children with disabilities

BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo, 30 August 2018 – In Congo-Brazzaville, as in many other African countries, people born with albinism are often discriminated against, abandoned and socially excluded. But for 14-year-old Vikène, it's different.

Her parents are supportive and taught their children to embrace their differences while pursuing their dreams. Two of her four siblings also have albinism, including her protective older sister, Raina. And recently, she started getting the help she needed to succeed in the classroom.

"I learned braille and I'm the best of my class in dictation. Here I have a friend called Exaucée and we have a lot of fun during the break.”

A new start

Vikène grew up in Kindamba, in the south of the country – an area hard hit by armed conflict, especially in 2017. Her school there was poorly resourced and eventually closed because of the fighting.

"I came to Brazzaville because there were security problems and Dad lost a friend, who was killed by a stray bullet,” she says. “We took a big truck with my mom, my brothers and sisters and we came to Brazzaville.”

Once the family were settled, Vikène enroled in classes at the National Institute of the Blind of Congo (INAC), where she is now in her second year of primary school. Like many children with albinism, Vikène has impaired vision, and the school has the teachers and resources to help her learn.

Inclusive education

The classes for the blind and visually impaired are small because braille learning is tedious. Vikène's class has just three students. And unlike her school in Kindamba, children are in classes divided by age and level, so she has friends her age. She even has her own desk, where before she had to share with three other children.

"I learned braille and I'm the best of my class in dictation," she says. “Here I have a friend called Exaucée and we have a lot of fun during the break.”

Karine Bamana, Vikène’s teacher, can also see how the specialized school and attention have helped her learn. "For some children, it takes 1-2 years to learn braille, but Vikène took only six months and I am proud of her progress."

Vikène is a success story of the inclusive education strategy developed by the Government’s Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Literacy Education and the Ministry of Social Affairs, with the support of UNICEF. The Sectoral Strategy of Education in Congo incorporates an inclusive education action plan for vulnerable children, including those from indigenous groups and those living with disabilities. The plan prioritizes interventions for marginalized and disabled children, such as developing tools for hearing and vision impaired students, creating specialized institutes and introducing inclusive education programmes in teacher’s training.