Special Education students during the closeup of the school year
St Gilles Elementary School in Kiunga received a donation of K60,000 from three Women & Children’s Associations from the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA); Nima Ara, Tutuwe Ara, and Nupmo representatives made the presentation on 1 December 2021.
Special Education Coordinator, Doris Amboman, from Callan Service Kiunga said the first intake of 113 children enrolled in February 2018.
“This program is a preparatory stage before mainstreaming to Elementary School level. Mostly teaching and learning through games, simple play activities to teach letters shapes, sounds & phonics, rhymes, colours, and prereading. The service enables students to learn basic writing and calculations and having a feeling of being in a classroom setting, before entering formal elementary prep education,” she said.
“The donation will help us to build a new double classroom because there is a need at the moment. Secondly, there is no Inclusive Education teacher in Ningerum because of accommodation issues. So this donation will help build a house so we can have a qualified teacher to support the Early Childhood Education Program in Ningerum.”
As a church-run school, the children are also taught good behaviour and simple prayers to begin the day, greetings, and to have a happy relationship with others.
The school offers special education for children aged 4 years to 6/7 years.
“We accept older children who have not been to school and wish to know some basics before going to elementary.”
“We get support from the church in the form of education tuition fee subsidy that comes to Callan Services Inclusive/Special Education component which we use to buy uniforms, stationery, chairs, blackboards, sports equipment, and built the first classroom from.
“My role as the Program Coordinator is to ensure teachers are happy and given some training through in-service and to seek opportunities for the growth and development of the school.
Also, encourage the Board of Management and the parents to take ownership and care of the facilities and have concern for their children’s future. I see also the importance of working closely with teachers in the other schools in Ningerum, the church leaders, local and government leaders to maintain our good partnership.”
She thanked the Women & Children’s Associations from Tutuwe, Waitri, and Nupmo and the partnership with OTDF for the timely donation and worthwhile commitment.