Exploring the Nature and Methods of Orientation and Mobility Taught to Learners with Visual Impairments at Magwero School for the Blind in Eastern Province of Zambia

The objectives of the study were to ascertain the method and resources used in the teaching of orientation and mobility to the learners with visual impairments and establish challenges encountered in teaching of Orientation and Mobility skills and determine measures that can be put in place when teaching orientation and mobility to learners with visual impairment. The sample size included five (5) special education teachers, three (3) School Administrators and five (5) visually impaired learners. The sampling techniques that were used to select the participants were random sampling of which administrators were picked at and purposive sampling technique that was used to pick teachers and VI learners. Random sampling was used in order to avoid biasness and Purposive sampling was used because the results of purposive sampling are usually more accurate than those achieved with an alternative form of sampling. The research design for this study was a Case study. With regard to data collection instruments, the study used self-administered structured interviews and observation checklist to find out the teaching of Orientation and Mobility Skills to learners with Visual Impairments. The data collected in this study was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study found that meeting the unique needs of children with Visual Impairment still continues to be a challenge at Magwero School for the Blind. Children with Visual Impairment face a lot of challenges in mobility which includes; failure to implement O and M Skills effectively which was attributed to shortage of qualified O and M specialist teachers, lack of materials to use, lack of parental involvement, wrong methods used in teaching O and M and generally lack of policy implementation by the Ministry of Education Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (MESVTEE). In view of these findings, the study recommended that the Ministry of Education should train and employ more specialists’ teachers who are qualified to deliver and meet the needs of children with Visual Impairment and that Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), should design an orientation and mobility syllabus to help learners reach their potential in Orientation and Mobility Skills and other functional areas such as Independent Living.