By Neo Kolane
Thirty-three-year old Kefuoe Nkuatsana has always had a dream of owning a special needs centre. That dream came to true when she opened Mamello Special Needs Centre in June last year.
Mamello Special Needs Centre is a centre that focuses more on helping children with special needs.
The centre is found at Ha Rasetimela High School in Naleli.
It deals with children who have difficulties such as autistic spectrum, attachment disorders, ADHD, slow learning, dyslexia and dyscalculia.
The Naleli-born and bred is passionate about what she does which is being around children hence trying to close a gap when it comes to learners with special needs.
Nkuatsana began tutoring children four years ago. Her passion grew more last year and she began with online classes due to COVID-19 pandemic.
She said not much of attention is given to children with special needs. More often they are expected to achieve like “normal kids” which to them is a frustration which is not even recognised.
Having always wanting to become a teacher, Nkuatsana studied Bachelor of Education in special education so as to create a value for the next generation and make a positive difference.
Nkuatsana told theReporter that from a bigger number that she has now, she has grown so much as a teacher and special educator.
“It is a well known fact that working with children is a challenge but working with special needs learners is triple that. That is why I believe in patience, that is where the name is derived from.
“My biggest achievement is when a child progresses and I can say I am doing pretty good because parents I work with are very happy with what I do to their children,” Nkuatsana disclosed.
Nonetheless, Nkuatsana says she experiences some challenges, the biggest being a challenge she encounters is that some of the parents want to see progress over night.
“Remember I am not on how much a child can learn but how much they can grasp. This comes to teaching them how they can learn because they cannot learn how we teach them,” she echoed.
She personally believes that every child is gifted and thus needs special attention.
She now has two employees; a professional teacher and a psychologist.
