A Learning Platform for Children with Special Needs in Schools of Kabwe District, Central Province in Zambia
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A Learning Platform for Children with Special Needs in Schools of Kabwe District, Central Province in Zambia
Mutunda Paul1
PG Student
Department of Computer Science
DMI-St. Eugen University, Zambia
Email: mutundapaul@gamil.com
Dr. T. Ananth kumar2
Supervisor
Department of Computer Science
DMI-St. Eugene University, Zambia
Mail ID: tananthkumar@ieee.org
Dr. Glorindal Selvam3
Course Coordinator
Department of Computer Science
DMI-St. Eugene University, Zambia
Mail ID: glorygj@yahoo.com
Abstract—Technology has extended to the education sector especially when it comes to eLearning or virtual learning platforms in Zambia. Unfortunately, Children with special needs (SEN) in schools have not enjoyed this privilege. This paper aims to create an eLearning platform for the visually impaired and deaf in Kabwe district of Zambia. This platform or the stand-alone program will help the users to learn using text(deaf) and speech (voice) command (visually impaired). Since the inception or introduction of ICT, the Government of the Republic has put in a lot of effort and money to train human resources in the field of ICT to solve problems using ICT and foster the agenda of the government. The Ministry of Education is the prime target for the training of masses in ICT-related fields. A branch of government called Smart Zambia or eGovernment division has been involved in trying to propel this government agenda by training teachers around the country on ICT issues called eGovernment. A combination of simply available programming technologies such as Java and MYSQL is used in this project. The possible ways of learning via text for the deaf and voice command for the visually impaired learners in Kabwe are analyzed in this project. It reveals that it is possible to use simple technologies to create eLearning or virtual platforms for SEN learners apart from the traditional way, which is face to face type of learning in the classroom. This is in line with the Ministry of Education’s vision for all learners in the district in particular and the country at large that all children whether regular or with a disability should have access to education. Advantages of the eLearning platform that the eLearning platform for SEN is portable, meaning it can be used on any computer, is easy to use, and is inexpensive to develop. Not much computer hardware would be required to deploy this system in stipulated schools in the district.
Keywords—SEN learners, Java, MYSQL, Ministry of Education
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