Learner based opportunities and challenges influencing education for the mentally challenged learners in special schools in Kenya: A study across special schools in homa bay county

The right to education for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) is globally acknowledged as a basic human right. Education is regarded as the means by which economically and socially marginalized persons can break vicious cycle of poverty. In Kenya, the right to education is provided for in article 53(b) of Kenya Constitution, which advocates for the right to free and compulsory basic education for every child. Article 54 of the Constitution of Kenya emphasizes the need to enhance education for persons with disabilities. The Government of Kenya recognizes the importance of Special Needs Education as a crucial sub sector for accelerating the attainment of Education For All, Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals. The objective of the study was to establish learner based opportunities and challenges influencing education for the mentally challenged learners. The study established that learner-based opportunities are learners’ attitude and existence of mentally challenged learners. The learner-based challenges are; learners’ attitude, drop out and enrollment. It was concluded that learners are accorded various opportunities to participate in learning but there are challenges too. The study recommended that school management and the Ministry of Education should establish strategies to ensure that learners and teachers are motivated and facilitated to foster quality education for the mentally challenged. These findings are valuable in formulation of policies that facilitate promotion of special education in Kenya.