No Trained Teachers Specialized in Autism Nationwide
Written by Mafken FM Newsroom on 6 November 2024
By Comfort Nthala
Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima has disclosed that as of March 2024, there has been no single trained teacher in Zambia specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders to teach children with autism.
In response to a question from Chienge Member of Parliament Given Katuta during the Questions for Oral Answers session in Parliament, Mr Syakalima explained that teacher training currently does not include autism as a standalone course.
Instead, autism is taught as part of a broader curriculum on educating children with intellectual disabilities.
He has clarified that, despite this gap, government has been orienting teachers across the country on how to effectively teach learners with autism in special schools and units.
