Kenya Society for the Deaf Wants Sign Language Included In School Syllabus
The Kenya Society for the Deaf has launched a campaign to put Kenya Sign Language in the school curriculum so all students can learn it.
According to the society’s chairman, Mr. Francis Ng’ang’a, this will enable learners to converse with deaf individuals and make the language a national language alongside English and Kiswahili.
Mr. Ng’ang’aNg’ang’a, a former secretary general of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), stated, “Very soon we are going to lobby the government to introduce sign language in all schools so that all Kenyans will be able to communicate with deaf people.”
Monday at the Pwani Secondary School for the Deaf in Kilifi Town, Mr. Ng’ang’aNg’ang’a urged parents of deaf children to enroll their children in nearby schools for the deaf rather than keeping them at home and request financial aid from the community.
“”We urge all parents with deaf children to take them to the nearest schools of their society, and in case of any financial handicaps, let them come to the society’s headquarters, and we shall give them money and facilities to keep these children in school,” he said.
Mr. Ng’ang’a also requested that the National and County Governments hire people with hearing impairment who apply for positions in various agencies, citing evidence that deaf people are also productive.
“Deaf people should be incorporated in government employment, and like in Uasin Gishu County, where there are at least 15 deaf people employed by the county government, we ask all county governments to take care of all grown deaf people and employ some of them.
Mr. Ng’ang’aNg’ang’a urged the two levels of government to protect the property of people with disabilities from unscrupulous individuals.
This is because it was discovered that a private developer had taken land from the Pwani Secondary School for the Deaf, which has 136 students.
However, the school held a title deed for 18 acres and an allotment for another 12 acres.
Mr. Ng’ang’a, who was joined by Kilifi’s Deputy Governor Glorah Mbetsa Chibule, was upset that a private developer had taken some of the land belonging to the Kenya Society for Deaf Children.
“We are telling people who intend to place beacons around this compound to stop immediately, and we are requesting that the government take swift action to protect this territory,” he said.
He stated that the organization would collaborate with the government to establish a university for deaf young people.
The Deputy Governor, Ms. Chibule, told the deaf community that the Kilifi County Government would follow the law that says 30% of government contracts must go to women, youth, and people with disabilities.
He said he would also provide deaf communities opportunities to pursue higher education.
She stated that the Kilifi County Government would employ sign language interpreters in essential institutions like hospitals to improve service to deaf individuals.
She asked the National Government to put these services in Huduma Centers and other important offices.
