In Namibia, Zambia and Kenya, learning disabilities are amongst the most important factors hindering primary school children’s attendance and achievement. The role of teachers, educationists and psychologists is crucial in the recognition and treatment. However, teacher and psychologist training in these countries fails to provide adequate knowledge and skills about learning disabilities. The project “Education for the Children with Learning Disabilities: African-European Co-operation for Promoting Higher Education and Research” aims to contribute to improving school attendance and achievement of pupils in primary education in Namibia, Zambia and Kenya by enhancing the skills of educationists (teachers, special education teachers and psychologists) to diagnose and treat school children’s learning disabilities.

To achieve this goal, the project will enhance the curricula for teacher, special education teacher and psychologist education at Higher Education Institutions in Namibia, Zambia and Kenya by promoting the accessibility and use of the latest research based knowledge on learning disabilities among school children, and by stimulating their own research in this field.

Interactive workshops to define educational needs

The Educational and Psychology Departments at the University of Namibia, University of Zambia, Kenyatta University and the Zambia Institute of Special Education, supported by the University Network of Psychology in Finland, will adapt the knowledge on learning disabilities that is available in developed countries and implement it via higher education for the support of the primary education within the African context. Finland is one of the leading European countries in developing the quality of the basic education and also special education support systems for children with learning difficulties.

The core elements of the project will be six one-week workshops, where staff from African institutions will be trained to teach special education teachers and psychologists. The workshops will consist of lessons and practical discussions between the members of the participating institutions, and presentations of invited experts on the topics related to teaching children with learning disabilities.

Workshop activities will include: gathering information on the state of the art in each participating country, assessing curriculum development needs in each partner institute, training university staff in assessment of treatment of language based learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia, SLI), and mathematical learning disabilities, challenging behaviour as well as emotional disorders in childhood, and studing approaches to treatment. Common research activities will also be planned.

Applying European knowledge to African reality

In between each workshop the partner institutions will work locally on the topics covered in the training. The aim is to adapt and enforce the given information and tools in practice, based on the local situation and needs.