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By Dotto Kuhenga, Communication and Marketing Office,

The University of Dar es Salaam, through the School of Education (SoED), has set more solid plans to enable students with special needs to receive appropriate services, it was recently reported.

This was informed when SoED celebrated the 60th anniversary of the University of Dar es Salaam, and commemorated her 44 years of providing education to students with special needs, on 18 October, 2022.

The University of Dar es Salaam has launched Disability Policy and Special Educational Needs to enable all university students with special needs to receive appropriate services, especially higher education of their choice, as other students at the campus.

The Deputy Minister for Education, Science and Technology Hon. Omary Kipanga (MP), who was the Guest of Honour at this event, said that the government was committed to continue prioritising the rights to education for girls and people with special needs.

“The government is very keen on improving the education standard for students with special needs,” he said, adding that in this financial year, it has allocated 700m/- to publish large print text books and braille for blind and visually impaired students. It has also allocated 700m/- to buy assistive technical devices and other equipment for the same, said Mr Kipanga.

The Deputy Minister further said that the government has modified some of the systems of its institutions to provide equal opportunities to all, including people with special needs.

The University of Dar es Salaam Vice Chancellor, Professor William Anangisye said that UDSM was determined to provide education equally for all students which “has been part of the implementation of the Vision of the University of Dar es Salaam 2061 as well as the Development Vision of Tanzania 2025”.

“In the academic year 2020/21, the number of special needs taking various programmes stood at 48. They included 24 male and 24 female students. This number has increased from 33 in 2017/18, and thus the public is aware that it is possible for students with special needs to reach the level of higher education like others”, said Prof. Anangisye.

The Dean of the UDSM School of Education, Dr. Eugenia Kafanabo  said that the School has plans to look for students with special needs (who have missed the opportunity to join the University) in relevant secondary schools, and provide them with the opportunity.