Uganda: Disabilities MP Slams Free Education Policy

[Harold Schiffman]

Disabilities MP Slams Free Education Policy


New Vision (Kampala)


NEWS
28 February 2008
Posted to the web 29 February 2008

By Flavia Nakagwa
Kampala

THE policy of free education at primary and secondary schools have not
benefited deaf children, an MP for people with disabilities, has said.
Alex Ndeezi, a representative of the central region who is also the
director of the national association for the deaf, noted that
mainstream schools lacked sign language interpreters while no efforts
had been made to build more schools for the deaf. He was speaking on
Monday during a seminar in Kampala.  Ndeezi pointed out that many deaf
people were semi illiterate and this was blocking their access to
opportunities for higher education and employment.  "Schools for the
deaf are very few and yet most teachers in the formal schools do not
know sign language," he said.

"Even in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the deaf do not have access to
health information especially in the rural areas where it is broadcast
in audio and some written."  Ndeezi, however, commended the national
examination body for providing interpreters for deaf candidates during
exams.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802290693.html
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