Cape Town – Pupils from from the Filia School for children with disabilities in Goodwood, Cape Town, celebrated Casual Day with a visit to Parliament on Friday.
Sixty youngsters who have different types of intellectual and physical disabilities were excited as they entered the parliamentary buildings for the first time in their lives. Parliament public education practitioner Valerie Dambuza gathered them in a boardroom and explained how parliament works.
Moving images projected on a screen in the boardroom took them on a virtual tour of Parliament as Dambuza explained the operations of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
She explained how 10 representatives from each of the nine provinces meet in the NCOP to discuss key issues affecting their provinces. The children then moved to the National Assembly public gallery, where Dambuza described procedures in that House.
“It is a privilege to be here. It is the first time for the school to be invited, and it is wonderful because our theme for this term is focused on South African heritage, and the theme ties in nicely with our visit here,” said school principal Mandy Mortlock.
She said it was amazing that the visit occurred on Casual Day, which raised awareness around disability.
“The visit is an opportunity to create awareness around people with special needs, and special needs education,” she said.
The pupils learnt how MPs and visitors to the National Assembly, who spoke various different languages, could access instant translation services via headphones by tuning in to interpreters on Parliament’s internal audio channels.
Turning to parliamentary debates, Dambuza told the children there were specific rules. “Your name must be on the list (of speakers)], and if your name is not on the list then you cannot stand up and speak,” she said.
Pointing out the President’s seat, she said it was a “special seat” as no one else was allowed to occupy it. She encouraged the pupils to ask questions, which they did.
During the lunch break, the school’s brass band performed in the boardroom. One of the songs they played was Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t she lovely”.
Music teacher, Mrs Davids, who co-ordinates the school’s music department, explained how she and the band teacher, through a lot of hard work and patience, teach the children.
“They cannot read, so we changed the curriculum to enable them to learn by sound,” she said. Each child starts off by learning the drums, and then progresses to playing the trumpet and finally, the trombone.
Highlighting the fact that it is important to focus on a child’s ability and not a disability, she said:”One child learnt how to play the trumpet with one hand.”
Browin Scholtz, 16, a future leader and in one of the senior classes at the school, said, “The visit was very inspirational. I learnt a lot from the people here.” He shared his dream to become a journalist, saying: “I want to have adventures in the world.”
“It was an absolutely awesome experience, and the visit gave us some substantial insights as to what happens here in Parliament. We felt connected to what Parliament does,” said deputy principal Anthony Meyer. He concluded: “For the children, it was an excellent experience.”
African News Agency