The Ministry of Education in Solwezi District has appealed to Government to construct a stand-alone special school to cater for children with disabilities across the district and the wider Northwestern Province.

District Education Standards Officer for Special Education, Matilda Ndumba, said that despite Solwezi having three special schools and two special units within regular schools, the facilities remain inadequate for the growing number of learners with diverse needs.

She explained that St. Mary’s school caters for visually and hearing‑impaired children, St. Charles supports learners with hearing impairments, while Cheshire Homes serves physically challenged pupils.

She noted that many children with disabilities, especially those in remote areas, are still missing out on education.

Ms. Ndumba noted that the special units at Kikombe and Kimiteto primary schools only support children with mild disabilities, leaving those with severe and profound disabilities without appropriate learning spaces.

She added that autistic children, in particular, lack suitable accommodation and cannot be integrated into regular classes due to the specialised attention they require.

She emphasised that teaching special‑needs learners demands intensive support, stating that one special‑needs child can require the same level of attention as ten learners without disabilities.

Ms. Ndumba further highlighted a shortage of specialised teachers in the district, especially in science and mathematics at primary school level, despite some new teachers being deployed in recent years.