Blantyre – Special needs teachers at Chichiri Secondary School have raised alarm over the growing gap between teacher numbers and learners with disabilities, warning that the shortage of trained personnel is undermining efforts to deliver inclusive education.

The concern was highlighted during a documentary showcase on inclusive education hosted at the school by disability rights advocate Naomi Muhamba, a Master of Social Policy student at the University of Melbourne.

Her documentary, Kalasi Lathu (“Our Classroom”), captures the lived experiences of learners with disabilities in Malawi’s education system.

“I have a lived experience with disabilities. I have albinism, and I felt it was important to raise awareness by documenting the challenges and triumphs of learners with different disabilities,” Muhamba explained.

Caroline Khumala, one of only two special needs teachers at Chichiri Secondary School, described the situation as overwhelming.

“We have 29 learners with disabilities, including visual impairments and learning disorders, but only two trained teachers. This makes it extremely difficult to provide the individualized support they need,” she said.

Khumala urged government authorities to prioritize training and recruitment of special needs teachers.

“Some students with hearing impairments require one-on-one teaching. Without enough teachers, their academic performance suffers. Increasing the number of trained personnel would make a huge difference,” she added.

Learners also voiced their frustrations. Karyn Kamwendo Banda, a visually impaired student, appealed for accessible learning materials.

“The government should provide resources such as large-print papers to support my learning,” she said.

Muhamba, who also serves as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, said the Kalasi Lathu project aims to amplify the voices of learners with disabilities, their families, and educators, while advocating for stronger support systems to make inclusive education a reality.

Statistics indicate that Malawi has an estimated 200,000 children with special needs enrolled in school, representing 3.3% of primary and 2.4% of secondary enrolments.

However, the majority remain excluded: only about 30% of children with disabilities attend school, while 70% are out of school due to systemic barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, limited resources, and a shortage of trained teachers.

(By Annes Mwale)