LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a bid to bridge the communication gap between people with hearing impairment, the Education Ministry plans to introduce sign language in the curriculum.
Ministry’s Deputy Director of Inclusive Education Lucy Magagula says sign language is a national language that needs to be incorporated in the curriculum towards Malawi’s agenda 2063.
Magagula was speaking on Monday, February 5, 2024, in Dowa during the official opening of the second cohort for training for trainers of trainers in sign language.
Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is organising a series of sign language training to reach and communicate with the hearing impaired, as well as train others.
Magagula observes that there is a great need for capacity building among teachers so that everyone equally accesses quality education, and that sign language becomes a language for everyone so that everyone participates in development.
“We want sign language to penetrate in all spheres of education towards helping special needs. We don’t want to leave anyone behind towards agenda 2063 hence promotion of sign language,” assures Magagula.
Macra Director General Daud Suleiman said that encouraging sign language is crucial in ensuring that everyone communicates and accesses information.
Suleiman added that sign language is key in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the country’s Development Agenda 2063.
MACRA’s five-day training with funding from the Universal Service Fund (USF), to ensure the connectivity of persons with disability, has attracted 70 secondary and primary school teachers from 19 districts.
