Malawi National Association of the Deaf (MANAD) has bemoaned that many people with hearing disabilities are struggling to excel in education due to language barriers.
Executive Board Chairperson of MANARD, Robert Mbendera, said this in Lilongwe when the Ministry of Gender launched the International Week of Deaf People, which is themed ‘No Human Rights Without Sign Language’.
He added that special needs teachers, as well as learning equipment for deaf people, are a challenge in schools that needs to be addressed with a sense of urgency.
Mbendera further argued that though there is a Disability Act, it has not been fully implemented, which has left glaring gaps in issues of inclusiveness.
Mbendera gave an example of parliamentary proceedings where deaf people fail to follow because there are no sign language interpreters.
Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Nertha Semphere-Mgala, said in Malawi, about 2.5 million people who have disabilities are deaf people.
She said the government will therefore support all programmes that are aimed at ensuring the well-being of deaf people.
Semphere – Mgala said her ministry will work with the Ministry of Education to ensure that deaf people do not have challenges in their education.
By Patrick Dambula and Jean Chinsamba
