Brighter future for deaf pupils

 

A student at the Buguruni  school for the in Dar es Salaam gives thanks the deputy permanent secretary of the ministry of communication, science and technology, Dr John Mndogo,  shortly after  a function at which the institution had received a  donation of various computer facilities from Universal Communication Access Fund (UCSAF) and a satellite dish  from Avanti Communication. PHOTO I SULIVAN KILAWE 

By Saumu Mwalimu,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• Many of the problems the students faced have been eased as modern technolgy is enabling them pursue their studies conveniently

Dar es Salaam. John Mkulima, 18, and Zaina Hemed, 17, are respectively  Standard Six and Seven  pupils at the Buguruni Deaf School in Dar es Salaam. They suffer from hearing disorder but are among top students there.

I met them when their school was receiving some computers from a government-run project Universal Communication Access Fund (UCSAF) and a satellite dish by Avant Communication Tanzania a week ago.

They were very excited to receive the equipment, because  they facilitate easier learning  and communication for them.

Mkulima  said that he loves being in front of the computer since he cannot hear,  and can thus chat with his friends and relatives, but it enables him  to keep track of his favourite science subjects, by seeing pictures and explanations that are  essentially difficult to understand.

“We  see pictures from the internet and explanations about many things related to various subjects and that  enhances my grasp, and furthermore,  I play various games as a recreational outlet. Since people in my situation can’t talk to many people,  games become my friend,” he said.

Ms Hemed says through the computer,  she learns more especially her favourite English language subject because pronouncing English language is easier when you see someone speak  it by using sign language.

“I chat with my friends in Europe because sending letters takes long, and since I cannot speak, chatting makes communication easier, is instant, is fun and cheap. So, I spend a lot of my spare time in front of the computer. If I am not learning then I am chatting with my family and friends,” she said.

Visual learning is important for  people with hearing disability

Idd Fussi,  an English teacher at the Buguruni Deaf School, says one of the  challenges that students with special needs are facing is that they use  curriculum used by other students.

He says special needs students tend to forget easily. “That is  why having new advanced facilities for them is most vital; these are very bright but the kind of learning they are passing through makes it  very difficult for majority of them to move forward,” he said.

The teacher added that the school has a number of students who passed national Standard Seven exams and continued to higher levels; but if they could use special facilities to be taught with, more and more could make it.

“For example, it is difficult to explain to them what a  gold mine is,  but through pictures or videos it makes it easy for them to understand and to remember,” he added.