Rwandans urged to ensure blind children get an education

Every child with a visual impairment deserves the chance to go to school and build a future, officials and disability advocates have said, urging parents and communities not to let disability prevent children from receiving an education.

The call was made on October 22, 2026, during the celebration of International White Cane Day in Kabarore Sector, Gatsibo District, under the theme “Vision Beyond the Sight.”

Dr. Beth Nasiforo Mukarwego, chairperson of the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB), said every Rwandan should understand that children with visual impairments have the right to attend school.

Mukarwego urged parents not to regard a child’s visual impairment as a source of shame or a reason to deny them an education.

She expressed concern that some parents who can afford to educate children without disabilities sometimes claim they lack the means when it comes to a child with a disability.

“If you have a child who is blind, do not treat it as a disgrace. Be grateful for the child you have, take them to school and pay their school fees without hesitation,” Mukarwego said.

She said children with visual impairments should be given the same opportunities to learn and develop their abilities as other children. She also highlighted the need to support girls with disabilities, who can face additional barriers to education and participation in society.

Mukarwego said RUB works with different institutions to promote the inclusion of people with visual impairments and called for greater efforts to ensure children are not left behind.

She also urged Rwandans to recognise that people who are blind can contribute to society in different professions, including teaching, healthcare and management.

“Although we cannot see with our eyes, what we can do goes beyond sight. A person’s ability to work should be judged by their performance, not by whether they can see,” she said.

Education opens opportunities

Regine Umuhoza, a person with a visual impairment who represents young people on RUB’s board, said education is essential for people with disabilities to develop their potential and participate fully in society.

Having graduated from university in 2025, Umuhoza urged parents and anyone who knows a child with a visual impairment to help ensure that the child attends school.

“Having a visual impairment does not mean that a person is incapable,” she said.

Umuhoza also described the white cane as an important tool for independence, allowing people with visual impairments to move around without constantly relying on others.

“With my white cane, I can go to the market, visit friends, go to the stadium to support my team and travel to many other places,” she said.

She explained that without a white cane, she would often need someone to accompany her, limiting her ability to move independently.

Her experience illustrated the importance of combining access to education with practical support that enables people with visual impairments to participate in everyday life.

More support needed

Philippe Ngirente, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), said Rwanda had made progress in promoting opportunities for people with disabilities, but more efforts were needed to ensure children with visual impairments could access education.

“We still face the challenge of not having enough schools for people with visual impairments. At present, we have only about four schools in the country,” Ngirente said.

He said some children remained out of school because their parents did not take them to school, calling for greater cooperation between families and relevant institutions to ensure children receive an education.

Ngirente also highlighted government efforts to prevent visual impairments through early detection and medical treatment.

According to Ngirente, about 200 people with visual impairments have graduated from university in Rwanda, demonstrating the opportunities education can create for people with disabilities.

Marceline Mukamana, Gatsibo District’s vice mayor in charge of social affairs, said people with disabilities have abilities that enable them to contribute to national development.

She said the district would continue advocating for equal educational opportunities and supporting efforts to ensure people with disabilities are included in community life.

“People with disabilities have abilities and contribute to building the country. A person’s ability should not be measured by their eyesight alone, but also by their ideas,” Mukamana said.

During the event, 170 people received white canes to support their mobility and independence.

According to information provided at the event, approximately 1,200 white canes have been distributed over the 18 years Rwanda has marked International White Cane Day.

The annual observance raises awareness of the role of white canes in helping people who are blind or visually impaired navigate their surroundings, while promoting their rights and inclusion in society.

Speakers at the Gatsibo event stressed that children with visual impairments need more than assistive devices. They also need families, schools and communities to support their education and recognise their ability to learn, work and contribute to society.

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