Discuss the background of special education in Zambia
Two table content and one reference
Special education in Zambia dates back to the early 20th century when missionary schools began to cater for children with disabilities. The government of Zambia started to take steps to formalize special education in the country in the 1960s, with the introduction of the Education Act which provided for the education of children with disabilities.
In 1972, the government established the Directorate of Special Education within the Ministry of General Education to oversee the education of children with disabilities. This marked the official recognition of special education as a distinct sector within the Zambian education system.
Over the years, Zambia has made progress in expanding access to special education services for children with disabilities. In 2012, the government enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act which provides for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities, including their right to education.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain in the provision of special education in Zambia. Limited resources, a lack of trained teachers and inadequate infrastructure are some of the key barriers to the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education.
Overall, the development of special education in Zambia has been characterized by a gradual recognition of the rights of children with disabilities and efforts to improve their access to quality education.
**Table 1: Milestones in the Development of Special Education in Zambia**
| Year | Milestone |
|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1960s | Introduction of the Education Act to provide for the education of children with disabilities |
| 1972 | Establishment of the Directorate of Special Education within the Ministry of General Education |
| 2012 | Enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act to protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including their right to education |
**Table 2: Key Challenges in Special Education in Zambia**
| Challenge | Description |
|------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Limited resources | Lack of funding and resources hinders the provision of quality special education services |
| Shortage of trained teachers | There is a shortage of qualified teachers with expertise in special education |
| Inadequate infrastructure | Many schools lack the necessary facilities and equipment to accommodate children with disabilities |
Reference:
Government of the Republic of Zambia. (2012). Persons with Disabilities Act. Retrieved from http://zambialaws.com/Principal-Legislation/chapter%20146.Persons%20with%20Disabilities%20Act%20Acts/Chapter%20146%20Persons%20with%20Disabilities%20Act.pdf