Provision of vocational skills to learners with down syndrome at a selected primary school in Kampala Capital City Authority

Abstract

This study was intended to explore the provision of Vocational Skills to learners with Down syndrome (LwDS) in Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) (in one of the Primary schools in Kampala). The study was guided by four research objectives which included; the different types of Vocational Skills taught to LwDS; how Vocational Skills are taught; the educational resources used to teach Vocational Skills to LwDS and challenges faced in teaching Vocational Skills LwDS. The target populations were primary school teachers and learners with Down syndrome (LwDS) of which a sample of 8 participants was selected for data collection. The study used a case study design of qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews to collect data. The data were analyzed thematically and meaning was derived from it. The results revealed that jewellery, sewing, recycling, are the Vocational Skills taught to LwDS even when there is a variety; methods and techniques used were not comprehensive to take care of the various abilities of LwDS. The educational resources used were not exhaustive of the immense existing provisions of the environment while teachers lacked tailor-made training for handling LwDS. The study recommends that MoES needs to invest in designing and developing a tailor-made or specific Vocational Skills curriculum for LwDS and teachers assess LwDS at an early age to determine suitable Vocational Skills.