Students with disabilities living in the interior of Vanua Levu go to school without lunches because they have to leave their homes early.

In the case of students with special needs in Tukavesi, they travel for 75.3 kilometres from Monday to Friday to attend Nasasavu School for Special Education.

Buca Bay Disabled People’s Organisation rep Isimeli Koli said traveling to school via bus and trucks could be remarkably difficult for children with disabilities.

For this reason, Mr Koli said, there was a demand for more schools for children with disabilities in the North.

“At the moment, there are only two schools for special education here (in the) North,” Mr Koli said.

“One in Nasavusavu and the other one in Labasa.

“This issue needs to be immediately addressed by the Government because we raised it before with the FijiFirst government, but our plea fell on deaf ears.”

Mr Koli said he felt the priorities of children with special needs were not always taken seriously by the authorities.

“We want our rights to be recognised,” he said. “Education as a human right means the right to education is legally guaranteed for all without any discrimination.

“And the State has an obligation to protect, respect and fulfil the right to education. In response, Education permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca said the ministry was looking into building more schools for special needs children.

Ms Kuruleca said she had a fair idea of what should be done and the issues that needed addressing within the ministry.

“There’s an acute shortage of teachers for children with special education. It’s an issue we will need to address.

“Encouraging our students and anyone else who is interested in joining teaching, we encourage them to specialise in inclusive education.”