Picture: The North West School for the Deaf logo/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
It seems the situation has not improved at the North West School for the Deaf in Leeudoringstad, near Wolmarastad if allegations raised by the parents are anything to go by. Speaking to Newsnote News Agency, some parents alleged that, there are still no sign language teachers and study material at the school.
The 28 learners, who failed matric in 2022 are expected to sit for their matric supplementary examinations soon after the school achieved 0% results during matric examinations in 2022.
One of the parents, Clara Moeti (26) said: “Our children do not have books, they write on a shared piece of paper. The school management tells us that we will have to look for interpreters for our children because they still do not have qualified sign language teachers, this is breaking my heart,” she said.
However, the North West Department of Education spokesperson, Elias Malindi refuted the allegations.
“The allegations are not true as the department has provided the school with one sign language teacher and the school also hired two sign language teachers to help learners.
“There are 29 learners who have registered for supplementary examinations that will commence in May/June examinations depending on the timetable,” he said.
Malindi further said, these learners are not full-time learners of the North West School for the Deaf, but they were in the Class of 2022. He added that this year, the school has 9 Grade 12 learners who are registered as the Class of 2023.
“Therefore, the school has gone the extra mile to assist the last year’s class by accommodating them back into the school hostels, even though they are not full-time learners.
“As part of the intervention, teachers are assisting these learners as they are at school and the department has arranged with the school to assist them with stationery,” said Malindi.
Meanwhile, last year, the Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB) in North West, visited the school and said, they were shocked to find out that teachers at the school did not know sign language.
PANSALB provincial chairperson, Goitsemodimo Seleka said: “What is happening there undermines the rights of these learners that are enshrined in the constitution. When these learners go to school, they expect to be taught in the language that they understand.
“It is difficult if teachers who were supposed to use sign language as the medium of communication at the school do not know the language.”
The Guardian 