PROVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: A CASE OF DONATA, MALAIKHA AND SHALOM COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN ZAMBIA.

Community schools appeared in Zambia in 1992 beginning with Lusaka and they quickly spread to other parts of the country. The Ministry of General Education recognizes its obligation to provide education of good quality to all children in response to national and international protocols to which Zambia is a part. The creation of Community Schools was an initiative to increase access to basic education but they required exceptional attention from government. Since their inception Community Schools have played a critical role in meeting education demands for marginalized children. According to the Ministry of General Education 2013 statistical bulletin there were 2,896 Community Schools offering primary and secondary education. Though the Community Schools were making education more accessible they had scanty information and data on children with special educational needs. This study identified three Schools teaching children with special educational needs these were; Donata Community Special School in Mkushi district of Central Province, Malaikha School for the Blind in Mazabuka district of Southern Province and Shalom Community School in Lusaka district of Lusaka Province. These Schools provide special education to children with various disabilities though they have varied challenges which make the provision and management of special education not entirely successful.