TO TEACH children with intellectual disabilities teachers need more than a remedial course to survive.

Teachers at the Albertina Sisulu School in Orlando, Soweto, say a remedial qualification can only help you so far.

"To teach at a school like this you need more than remedial qualifications. The children become a part of your life. You need to be a champion of people with disabilities and learn to love unconditionally," principal Bernard Lushozi said.

The school caters for children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of four and 18 years. Learners are not grouped according to age but mental capabilities.

"If we are lucky and the children come to our school when they are young, we can rehabilitate and re-integrate them into mainstream (schooling). But otherwise, we teach them how to take care of themselves, socialise and keep their minds alert.

"The children have intellectual disabilities and cannot develop academically. None of them can reach Grade 12," Lushozi, a former Orlando Pirates player, said.

For the older children the seven-year-old school offers cleaning services and home economics.

"Most of these children will never learn to read or write, so we have agreements with stores to employ them as cleaners. We have a class where we teach them how to clean and differentiate materials."

The school charges R300, which is not compulsory as most parents cannot afford it. The children get two meals a day and transport to and from school is offered.