Universities Urged to Offer Sign Language as A Course
The call has been made for the government to incorporate sign language as a formal subject within the education system. Advocates believe that this move would lead to an increase in the number of teachers specializing in special needs education, effectively addressing the current shortage of such educators in schools.
Notably, the University of Nairobi stands as the primary higher education institution in the country championing inclusive learning, offering students with hearing impairments an opportunity to pursue university-level education.
This initiative was brought to the forefront during the National Deaf Symposium held at the University of Nairobi, where deaf individuals united under the theme, “Embrace the Silence, Celebrate the Strength.” Harun Hassan, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Persons with Disability, emphasized the need to enhance the training of teachers in this field, aiming to have multiple teachers equipped to work with deaf children in each school. This, he believes, would serve as a significant motivation for deaf students.
Hassan also underscored the importance of overcoming communication barriers and fostering acceptance of deaf individuals as a diverse part of society. He highlighted efforts made to train people in key areas such as police and healthcare, enabling them to communicate effectively with deaf clients and provide better service.
However, Hassan noted challenges in accurately identifying the number of deaf individuals in the country due to insufficient infrastructure. He called for better data collection methods and improved access to medical assessments to provide a more precise count.
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In a promising development, MPs proposed a sign language bill in 2023 with the aim of mainstreaming sign language into the primary school curriculum. If this bill is adopted, it could significantly enhance accessibility and inclusion for all, particularly for the deaf community.
Hassan further revealed that the government has shown willingness to address the issues faced by the deaf community, with President William Ruto encouraging them to submit their concerns for consideration in policy interventions, including healthcare and education.
Nickson Kakiri, Chairman of the Kenya National Association of the Deaf, urged the government to collaborate with deaf organizations to ensure the recruitment and assessment of teachers for special schools are carried out with the involvement of the right stakeholders. This, he believes, would lead to better outcomes for deaf children in schools.
Universities Urged to Offer Sign Language as A Course
