YK Poudel and Mandira Dootraj 

The education ministry received eight laundry machines from Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) at Changangkha MSS on March 26.

The machines are being distributed to the eight SEN schools that provide SEN education on laundry services. Changangkha MSS received it on March 26.

Drugyel HSS, Samtengang CS, Damphu MSS, Gasarling CS, Jigme Sherubling CS, Mongar MSS, and Tshangkha CS  will get the machines soon, according to education ministry officials.

Scholarship and Student Support Division, Chief, Sherab Gyeltshen said that some SEN schools teach life skills such as laundry, tailoring, cooking, arts and crafts. “However, the schools do not have adequate student equipment.”

Changangkha MSS Principal, Nyendro said that the school has 996 students including 125 SEN students with disabilities. “Eight SEN students learn laundry course from a Japanese instructor as their pre-vocational training.”

“They will be able to gain skills in literacy and numeracy in addition to laundry services as they transit from Changangkha and join other institutes,” he said.

He said that the school facilitates SEN students up to 16 years. It helps them to transit higher institutes with required practical skills so that they are able to decide what they want to do.

JICA Chief Representative, Tomoyuki Yamada said that the assistance was part of the Community Employment Programme that engages 27 Japanese volunteers.

As of last year, there were 26 schools with SEN programmes and 13 transition schools with 926 students.