A bill to authorize the President of the Republic to ratify the Marrakech Treaty to facilitate access to published works for virtually impaired persons has been adopted in Parliament with sole objective of promoting inclusive education.
The bill was defended during a plenary siting Tuesday 30 March 2021 chaired Deputy Speaker, Hon Emilia Monjowa Lifaka.
The bill was defended Minister Pauline Irene Nguene. Responding to concerns raised by Honourable Fonge Julius from Kupe Muanenguba on the effectiveness of inclusive education in the country, Minister Pauline Irene Nguene of Social Affairs said government’s commitment towards improving the welfare of the physically challenged persons is palpable even with reduced means.
She revealed that they exist 68 inclusive schools in the country where closed to 2000 physically challenged kids are trained alongside their peers with non-special needs. She said the bill will reduce constraints faced by the blind in getting equal access to appropriate information, opportunities for cultural enrichment and development of their talents and artistic potentials.
The Minister said catering for persons with special needs is the cornerstone of the action of the ministry and they also receive appropriate assistance and support from public services. She stressed that in spite of limited funds, government would see to it that its roadmap in this direction is executed.
Statistics from the World Health Organisation estimates that over 314 million visually impaired persons worldwide, 90% of them in developing countries. The World Blind Union statistics states that out of one million works published worldwide each year, less than 5% are in formats accessible to blind and visually impaired persons. The National Blindness Programme studies states that 600 000 persons with blind are educationally disadvantaged due to lack of facilities and training-related costs.
Reactions
“Adopting the bill is helping the nation” Hon. Adamou from Donga Mantung East Special Constituency
“Nobody has ever loved to be blind. We have never thought of getting blind but it happens and when the state starts looking into cases like this, I think that is necessary because they are taking care of people who were like us yesterday and who we might be like tomorrow…doing that I think we are helping the nation in many ways”
“We have to improve the budget of the ministry” Hon Cabra Libii
“This bill will permit the blind people to have access to books because usually the authors of the books have copyright and if you want to duplicate these books you need authorization. Now, we have the possibility after the validation of this bill to create material from books specifically for blind people who will take in charge the blind, the old, mad people. This is many challenges for a minister who doesn’t have money. We have to work here in this parliament to improve the budget of this minister”
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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