Address
SOS Area Opposite Living Waters Church.
Mzuzu, Malawi
P.O Box 540, Mzuzu
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7:30AM - 3:30PM
Saturday: 8AM - 12PM,
Sunday: Closed.
On the 28th of March Hopeview Resource Centre arranged an awareness campaign in Mzuzu.
The day was filled with warmth, curiosity, and gratitude. It gave the participants an opportunity to interact with our learners, just to give a glimpse of what it takes to work in the special education field.
It was indeed a community uptake as the authority leaders were present during the campaign. Parents, guardians and the community at large listened with eagerness to the symptoms of a child in need of a special teaching approach. This need is caused by challenges ranging from limited focus and attention, delayed latency, repetitive behaviour, reading and writing difficulties, sensory-seeking behaviour etc.
Hopeview explained the type of learning disabilities that they are currently supporting with special education, mostly those with invisible disabilities such as delayed or inarticulate speech, learning difficulties, communication, social and emotional difficulties and challenging behaviour.
Many children are prone to exhibit such behaviours time and again. One theme in our campaign is to help parents see when the challenges faced by the child are severe enough to warrant a call for action and support for the child.
When a child is failing at schoolwork, he/she may display disruptive behaviour. It is important to note that this may not be intentional. It may be a coping mechanism which requires a teacher or adult to implement adaptive measures (or accommodations.)
Practical ways that Hopeview Resource Centre is implementing the support to children in need of special education, includes the development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP), giving tasks in small chunks, frequent breaks to help concentration, role play for speech difficulties and other practical ways adapted to the individual learner.
The remarks from the participants were encouraging to hear. One participant observed that ‘The work is definitely not easy. Thank you for the willingness and compassion shown to carry out this noble task’. One parent appealed for continuation of the services that are being offered at Hopeview.
The Ministry of Education representatives were impressed with the knowledge and collaboration the centre showed in working with the ministry’s agenda on Education for All (EFA), leaving no one behind.
Our sincere thanks to all who participated!
