Swazi Observer

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KING OPENS E3.1M DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTRE

By SIFISO NHLABATSI | 2024-10-06

His Majesty King Mswati III has officially opened a E3.1 million state-of-the art Disability Resource Centre at the University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni campus.

The facility, made possible through the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) and funded by the Universal Access and Service Fund, is a major milestone in the university's efforts to expand access to education for students with disabilities.

His Majesty said it was encouraging to see the institution taking positive action in ensuring that in delivering its mandate and strategic goals, they focus on making education accessible to all and leaving no one behind.

“We are grateful to Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) for making this landmark achievement a reality through the Universal Access and Service Fund (UASF),” he said.

His Majesty said through this state-of-the-art facility, he believed many students with disabilities will also enjoy the support and benefit of using technology and services regardless of their challenges. He said the country looked forward to seeing more innovation and progress in the university’s development programmes to remain relevant and competitive in the academic space and called on the students, faculty and staff to take care of these facilities and make sure that even the generations to come will find them and be of use to them too.

Converted UNESWA Vice Chancellor Professor, Justice Thwala, said the Disability Resource Centre was a classroom, which was converted and furnished with highly-specialised equipment, assistive technologies, and a smart-board to support students with special needs, particularly students with visual, hearing and other physical impairments. He said the centre was now fully operational and managed by a full-time special education needs technician.

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