The North West's MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi, has delivered on her promise of prioritising and helping to improve special needs schools in the province.

The learners and school principal Michelle Feeling of the ES le Grange Special School received assertive devices and sanitary towels from Arts and Culture MEC, Keenetswe Mosenogi, and North West Education MEC, Viola Motsumi. Photo supplied

On Friday (15/9), Motsumi visited ES le Grange Special School in Potchefstroom to hand over assertive devices and sanitary towels. Accompanied by Arts, Sports, Culture, and Recreation MEC, Keenetswe Mosenogi, and District Director, Benny Monale, Motsumi said the donation forms part of provincial government social cluster service delivery programme called "Thuntsa Lerole". 

She said the 30 devices donated at the special needs school will help learners with speech disorder. While the sanitary pads will ensure the girls attend school without stressing of any sanitary emergencies during the month.

"When it comes to special schools, I know there are many more challenges there. As the Education MEC, I realised I have not paid more attention to special schools. At the same time, I'm saying special schools deserve to be treated as such. In this 'Thuntsa Lerole', I have taken a decision that with all schools I'm going to visit, I'm going to choose special schools," Motsumi said.

She visited the Western Cape's Chere Botha Special School in Belville and Beacon Special School in Mitchells Plain to observe the infrastructure of the schools, how teacher allocation is done, and the curriculum followed by the schools. Motsumi emphasised the importance of changing the game in dealing with learners with special needs.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi