📋 Tender Overview
The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNPRPD has started piloting a disability audit tool which is expected to assist Technical and Vocational Education Training TVET institutions and employers and workers organisations in tracking and documenting stigma and discrimination patterns towards persons with disabilities and measuring a shift in attitudes and perceptions over time.As part of the piloting phase Deaf Women Included DWI an Organization of Persons with Disabilities administered Inclusion Surveys to 80 Technical and Vocational Education Training TVET learners and Instructors from TVET institutions in Zimbabwe. DWI is very much honoured to participate in the pilot survey of this Disability Audit Tool which is being tried in 4 countries. Such a tool helps TVET institutions to analyse the extent to which their services are accessible to persons with disabilities. Agnes Chindimba Director of Deaf Women IncludedDisability stigma and discrimination remain major problems in TVET institutions. More often TVET students and TVET instructors have had to suffer in silence as there was no way to track and document disability Stigma and Discrimination in TVET institutions. TVET students and TVET instructors taking part in the inclusion survey Part of the piloting of the audit tool initiates beginning of practical steps towards dismantling the barriers that have been standing in the way of Persons with Disabilities in TVET institutions attaining their education.Disability stigma and discrimination have been a major problem in TVET institutions. For example I have a problem with my eyesight. Therefore I find it hard to read notes written on the board. Sometimes I have to ask my classmates to assist me. With the solution Audit tool we now have persons with disabilities can now enroll and enjoy their learning. Tapiwa Auto Electrics student with Albinism.To address some of the challenges faced by persons with Albinism and eyesight challenges Mr. Antonio Blessed Students Counsellor pointed out that the Higher Education Examination Council HEXCO should consider giving more exam writing time and large font exam question papers for a persons eyesight challenges.The Higher Education Examination Council HEXCO should consider giving more exam writing time and provide large font exam question papers to persons with Albinism. Mr. Antonio Blessed Harare Polytechnic students CounsellorThe full participation of TVET instructors and TVET learners in the piloting of the audit tool to track stigma and discrimination hints at the positive attitude and commitment that TVET institutions have towards the full implementation of the Audit tool. Apart from uncovering the existing stigma and discrimination patterns towards persons with disabilities the audit will help staff and management of TVETs reflect on all aspects of their institutions from policy through to practice and identify areas of change needed to improve. This will involve TVET institutions reflecting on whether they are indirectly discriminating PWDs through their enrolment processes. Unlike in the past the Audit tool will enable TVET institutions to measure a shift in attitudes perceptions and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities. This will become the basis for TVET Institutions to realise the need to raise awareness of disability issues not only among those who have disabilities but the whole institution including learners support staff and lecturers.We as TVET instructors want all persons with disabilities to be considered and be able to be enrolled in all Universities and TVET institutions in Zimbabwe. We need to enjoy teaching and learning together.Fatima Matanga Lecturer Mechanical and production engineeringUN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNPRPD is supporting a dedicated Multicounty Programme towards Ending Stigma and Discrimination Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Marginalization of Persons with Disabilities in Mozambique Namibia Tanzania and Zimbabwe. This two-year programme is jointly conducted by UNESCO and ILO in close partnership with the national institutions.
