Miss-Delectable
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News - Finance/ Labour: Money issues could end deaf pupils' schooling
Some deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils at the Mary Kihn School in Observatory could suffer an abrupt end to their schooling if money is not raised to pay for a Grade 7 teacher next year.
The school caters for children with hearing difficulties - those who can speak and those who rely on sign language.
According to the school's principal, Lawton Brown, while its classes go up to Grade 7, the present class is only for children who can partially hear. The school requires a Grade 7 class that caters specifically for pupils requiring sign language, he said.
The school's governing body chairperson, Amelia Koeries, said parents were concerned about what would happen to the Grade 6 pupils if a Grade 7 class was not opened next year.
"Each of our signing classes has one teacher aid who interprets what the teacher is saying so we would need enough money to pay for a Grade 7 teacher, as well as the aid," she said.
Koeries said once the school could establish a Grade 7 class, pupils would have a better foundation for high school education at other deaf schools.
"The issue of a Grade 7 class has come up before but there has never been enough of a push. Most of these kids are two years behind in their development."
She said the school was exploring various fund-raising initiatives to raise R60 000.
Brown said the school had about 90 pupils and 15 teachers.
To assist, contact the school on 021 447 0310.
Some deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils at the Mary Kihn School in Observatory could suffer an abrupt end to their schooling if money is not raised to pay for a Grade 7 teacher next year.
The school caters for children with hearing difficulties - those who can speak and those who rely on sign language.
According to the school's principal, Lawton Brown, while its classes go up to Grade 7, the present class is only for children who can partially hear. The school requires a Grade 7 class that caters specifically for pupils requiring sign language, he said.
The school's governing body chairperson, Amelia Koeries, said parents were concerned about what would happen to the Grade 6 pupils if a Grade 7 class was not opened next year.
"Each of our signing classes has one teacher aid who interprets what the teacher is saying so we would need enough money to pay for a Grade 7 teacher, as well as the aid," she said.
Koeries said once the school could establish a Grade 7 class, pupils would have a better foundation for high school education at other deaf schools.
"The issue of a Grade 7 class has come up before but there has never been enough of a push. Most of these kids are two years behind in their development."
She said the school was exploring various fund-raising initiatives to raise R60 000.
Brown said the school had about 90 pupils and 15 teachers.
To assist, contact the school on 021 447 0310.