Kakamega: The government has announced the introduction of new sports in school competitions aimed at providing more opportunities for learners in Special Needs Education (SNE) to engage in athletic activities. This year's national school competition has seen the inclusion of showdown and blind football, specifically designed for learners who are Visually Impaired (VI).
According to Kenya News Agency, these new sports are part of a growing list of games adapted from regular sports for SNE learners, aligning with the country's ongoing implementation of Competency-Based Education (CBE). Eveleen Mitei, the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), emphasized the importance of SNE teachers in training these learners in sports science. Speaking at the national school sports competition in Booker Academy, Kakamega County, Mitei highlighted the expertise required to prepare and nurture learners with special needs.
The government, in collaboration with various partners, is committed to providing necessary equipment and training for SNE teachers to facilitate the participation of learners with special needs in sports. In addition to showdown and blind football, SNE learners have been participating in sports such as goalball, netball, futsal, tenniquoite, throwball, handball, and basketball.
Charles Sigei, the National Chair for the Visually Impaired, announced that learners with special needs will advance to the Federation of East Africa Games, also set to be held in Kakamega later this month. Historically, the FEASSA games have included goalball for the visually impaired, but this year, showdown and blind football will also be featured. These sports provide learners with opportunities for exposure, interaction, and potential career paths in sports.
Support for these initiatives comes from organizations like Alive and Kicking and the Kenya Sports Association for the Visually Impaired (KESAVI). The 3€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬3 basketball format for junior boys and girls with Hearing Impairment (HI), introduced last year, is also being played for the first time at the National School competitions. Arwonyo Eric, Basketball Coordinator for SNE at the national level, explained the game format and its competitive nature.
Joshua Kipsang Kendagor, National Secretary for Deafblind sports, shared insights into the growth of Deafblind Games since their inception in 2012. He emphasized the benefits of sports for learners, such as exposure, socialization, and physical development. Andrew Oloo, project manager of the Tucheze Pia program by Alive and Kicking, noted their ongoing efforts to train teachers from 82 schools to support over 4,000 students with visual impairments.
Martin Kamau from KESAVI expressed the association's readiness to support special needs learners in their sporting pursuits, including participation in international competitions. Kamau highlighted the opportunities provided by the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) games for showcasing talent. Selected learners from the East Africa Games will also have the chance to compete internationally next March.