Challenges Pupils with Albinism face in Selected Schools of Luapula Province, Zambia

The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges pupils with albinism face in schools. It was a case study which comprised of thirty (30) participants from St. Mary’s Girls Secondary School and St. Mary’s Special School for the Visually Impaired in Kawambwa. This study was qualitative in nature. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. A descriptive research design was used. The key findings of the study revealed that pupils with albinism were not accepted but discriminated by their fellow pupils who were not albinos and some teachers. The pupils also faced problems with teaching and learning materials which were not user friendly. Further, the findings revealed that pupils with albinism had low self-esteem compared to those without albinism as a result of the challenges they faced. Based on the findings, this study recommends there should be psychological intervention programmes which include assertiveness training and personal coping skills for pupils with albinism in schools so as to continue to strengthen their self- esteem and assertiveness. The study further recommends that when designing education policies, policy makers should not only consider the academic, but also the physiological and the psychological needs of learners with albinism with the aim of protecting their rights.