Gulu City Education Officer, Richard Irwenyo, highlighted the growing demand for special needs education. He pointed out that the three existing special needs schools have become referral centers, even drawing students from neighboring South Sudan.
The lack of adequate special needs education infrastructure in the Acholi Sub-region has left many children with disabilities (CWD) struggling to access education.
Although Gulu City has three special needs schools—Gulu Primary School, Laroo Adraa Primary School, and Gulu Prison Primary School—other districts must rely on mainstream primary schools that often lack specialized teachers and resources.
Gulu City Education Officer, Richard Irwenyo, highlighted the growing demand for special needs education. He pointed out that the three existing special needs schools have become referral centers, even drawing students from neighboring South Sudan.
“The three schools are now acting like referrals for other districts and even neighboring South Sudan. We have many South Sudanese special needs pupils at Laroo Adraa Primary School and Gulu Primary School,” said Irwenyo.
Currently, Laroo Adraa Primary School has only four special needs teachers, Gulu Primary School has six, and Gulu Prison Primary School has three. Irwenyo shared plans to add four more teachers each to Laroo Adraa and Gulu Primary Schools.
In Omoro District, Reverend Ochieng Vincent Oceng, the District Education Officer, has proposed the establishment of special needs units at Opit and Palenga Primary Schools. He hopes for support from the Ministry of Education to address the needs of children with disabilities, especially as the district deals with cases of Nodding Syndrome.
Ochieng noted that, “Our proposal is that special needs units should be established at Palenga and Opit primary school to cater for pupils with special needs. We hope that the Ministry of Education takes its up.” This condition, according to the World Health Organization, affects children aged 5 to 15 and results in cognitive decline, neurological deterioration, and stunted growth.
Jimmy Kakamon, LC1 Chairperson of Te-Olam village in Odek Sub County, revealed that a special unit at Owaca Primary School for children with Nodding Syndrome was shut down after development partners withdrew food aid. “Children with Nodding Syndrome are often violent when they get hungry, some of them even burn
Judith Akello
Freelancer