A class eight pupil, June Masimoni, moved the audience to tears when she delivered a speech touching on the plight of school children with visual impairments before Education CS Amina Mohamed on Wednesday.
CS Amina was presiding over the distribution of 21,987 early grade mathematics learners’ books and teachers’ guides for special needs learners in Nairobi.
The materials are part of the plan by the government to implement a new competency-based curriculum that is being rolled out to facilitate early years education in the country.
June’s speech could easily have passed for a simple moment in the program of the event but it soon touched the hearts of the people.
Feelings of sorrow and silence filled the air soon after June began to speak.
She started by indicating, “As children with vision impairment we undergo many challenges.”
“We must always have a desk mate to help us even read a book and this is very sad because it means they first help us to read after that they can now read for themselves” stated June.
“Even during examinations in a class of six, we may only have one person to assist us and we always fail to complete examinations in time and this really annoys me,” she added.
It was clear that she strongly captured the attention of CS Amina, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang and Senate Education Committee chairperson Chris Langat who had their eyes glued on her.
The pupil informed the officials of a serious need in the system by asserting, “We should find out what is wrong with examinations. To ensure all children get equal opportunity.”
When the CS stood up to speak, she began by communicating, “I have been moved by the story of June… This is really touching.”
She also went ahead to invite June and her teacher to her offices to further explain the subject matter in details so that the government can address it as desired.
The event was held in the premises of MFI Document Solutions along Mombasa Road in Nairobi.
The company has partnered with the ministry to distribute the learning materials across the country.
CS Amina launching the new competency-based curriculum.
