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Mmegi Online :: Deaf association calls on state to learn sign language
The association of the deaf in Botswana has called on the government and the larger community to learn how to communicate in sign language.
This emerged last week during the three-day workshop for the training of interpreters in sign language in Gaborone. The aim of the workshop, which was organised by the Botswana Association of the Deaf on sign language, was to teach hearing people, especially unemployed youth, sign language so that they are able to communicate with the deaf and get jobs as sign language interpreters.
During the workshop, members of the association complained that the government and the community were not doing much to learn sign language.They said lack of knowledge in sign language makes it hard for them to communicate or express their needs and wants to the government and other people on a personal level. They said that not being able to communicate with people whose hearing is intact makes it hard for them to take part in the development of the country and they are not able to express their feelings to their leaders because of communication barriers that make it hard for both parties to understand each other.
"We want the community to be familiar with sign language by training interpreters as Botswana Sign Language users, for the purposes of communicating effectively with deaf people," said Shirley Keoagile, who is the treasurer of the Botswana Association of the Deaf. She said that they want to give people adequate skills so that they can become fluent users of Botswana Sign Language (BOSL).
"The workshop's aim is to teach the unemployed youth sign language so that they can look for jobs as interpreters and teach the deaf people various life skills in sign language," said Keoagile, who is able to lip-read and talk.
They raised their problems with the Assistant Minister of Education Keletso Rakhudu, who in turn agreed that government needs to do more for people with disabilities. To that end, he said government has established a unit to cater for them within the Office of the President.
They told him that they face challenges when they visit government offices for assistance because hearing civil servants cannot understand sign language.They said doctors the police and the community at large must learn sign language.
Deaf people requested the government to introduce sign language in the school curriculum, especially at primary school level. Rakhudu said that the government appreciates the many challenges faced by deaf people and that why their issues are being addressed at the highest level within the Office of the President.
However, he said that his ministry is working hard to educate and train the deaf and has to that extent,established four units at primary school level for them. These are based at Ramotswa, Francistown, Boyei Primary School in Maun and Masa Primary School in Gaborone.
Furthermore, government has established three units at secondary school level for the deaf. These are Ramotswa Secondary School, Tashata Junior Secondary School and Maun Senior Secondary School. He said the units have increased the number of learners with hearing impairment to access education and training.
He said he hoped government would increase schools that can assist the deaf in their education and training.Rakhudu encouraged workshop participants to put what they have learnt from the workshop to good use.
The association of the deaf in Botswana has called on the government and the larger community to learn how to communicate in sign language.
This emerged last week during the three-day workshop for the training of interpreters in sign language in Gaborone. The aim of the workshop, which was organised by the Botswana Association of the Deaf on sign language, was to teach hearing people, especially unemployed youth, sign language so that they are able to communicate with the deaf and get jobs as sign language interpreters.
During the workshop, members of the association complained that the government and the community were not doing much to learn sign language.They said lack of knowledge in sign language makes it hard for them to communicate or express their needs and wants to the government and other people on a personal level. They said that not being able to communicate with people whose hearing is intact makes it hard for them to take part in the development of the country and they are not able to express their feelings to their leaders because of communication barriers that make it hard for both parties to understand each other.
"We want the community to be familiar with sign language by training interpreters as Botswana Sign Language users, for the purposes of communicating effectively with deaf people," said Shirley Keoagile, who is the treasurer of the Botswana Association of the Deaf. She said that they want to give people adequate skills so that they can become fluent users of Botswana Sign Language (BOSL).
"The workshop's aim is to teach the unemployed youth sign language so that they can look for jobs as interpreters and teach the deaf people various life skills in sign language," said Keoagile, who is able to lip-read and talk.
They raised their problems with the Assistant Minister of Education Keletso Rakhudu, who in turn agreed that government needs to do more for people with disabilities. To that end, he said government has established a unit to cater for them within the Office of the President.
They told him that they face challenges when they visit government offices for assistance because hearing civil servants cannot understand sign language.They said doctors the police and the community at large must learn sign language.
Deaf people requested the government to introduce sign language in the school curriculum, especially at primary school level. Rakhudu said that the government appreciates the many challenges faced by deaf people and that why their issues are being addressed at the highest level within the Office of the President.
However, he said that his ministry is working hard to educate and train the deaf and has to that extent,established four units at primary school level for them. These are based at Ramotswa, Francistown, Boyei Primary School in Maun and Masa Primary School in Gaborone.
Furthermore, government has established three units at secondary school level for the deaf. These are Ramotswa Secondary School, Tashata Junior Secondary School and Maun Senior Secondary School. He said the units have increased the number of learners with hearing impairment to access education and training.
He said he hoped government would increase schools that can assist the deaf in their education and training.Rakhudu encouraged workshop participants to put what they have learnt from the workshop to good use.