THE Australian government has handed over equipment to Arya Samaj Primary School that will ensure its students with disabilities have access to quality education.
A statement said the equipment funded by AusAID included Braille machines, white canes, a laptop and sign language dictionaries.
Through AusAID's Access to Quality Education Program (AQEP), Arya Samaj Primary is one of five disability-inclusive education demonstration schools with the other four located in each of the four divisions.
These five inclusive education demonstration schools have been developed in mainstream primary schools to trial AQEP's inclusive education approach, which is articulated in the AQEP disability inclusion strategy.
This strategy has been developed in close consultation with the Education Ministry, disabled people's organisations and special schools. It aims to achieve three outcomes for children with disabilities in Fiji — increased access to education (enrolments), increased retention and completion rates, and improved learning outcomes.
The four remaining schools will over the next month receive similar equipment in addition to a school grant for renovations to the schools ensuring accessibility and suitability for students with disabilities.
The other four schools are Adi Maopa Primary School South Taveuni Primary School, Ratu Latianara Primary School and Tavua District School.