Education: in special schools or mainstream?
The rural school where this study was conducted is a single disability school, catering for the needs of visually impaired pupils. The vast majority of the children have albinism as this is the main cause of vision problems in this area. The school buildings are adapted to suit these pupils, with covered walkways and trees in the courtyard providing shade from the harsh tropical sun. Shutters on the windows helped reduce glare, as these children show extreme sensitivity to bright light. The school encourages and supports a positive attitude towards albinism, and enhances the pupil's self image and sense of self worth.
This group had an optimistic view of the intelligence of people with albinism, with most rating them more intelligent than others. Pupils were fully aware of the advantages of their education at this school, where having albinism was the norm, special adaptations were made to the classroom environment and teachers were aware of their visual impairment. Most rated special education, at least at primary level, as the best option for children with albinism.
This school seems to be one of only a few in South Africa where individualized educational programmes for children with albinism exist. Lund (Lund, 1997, 2001), in a study in Zimbabwe, concluded that these children can be successfully integrated into mainstream education, if teachers took into account their poor eyesight and sun-sensitive skins. Before subscribing to such an educational policy the support system needs to be scrutinized. In western countries adequate support can be taken for granted. Even in Zimbabwe with its well-trained teachers, it may be less of a problem. Most South African schools in the rural areas, however, are at the moment understaffed, crowded and have poor infra-structure, making it unlikely that such integration can be successfully implemented in the near future.