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Children
with hearing difficulties find their voice in a new classroom
A classroom
catering to the needs of 14 children with learning disabilities was opened in Mleih Secondary
School in Madaba. With the help of two
specialized teachers, the children have started their journey to communicate
better with their families and the world around them. Their names were the
first thing the children excitedly learned.
Behind
the story
In the past,
there were no education facilities for children who are hearing-impaired in
Mleih/Madaba public schools, although Makana's assessment indicated that there
are many deaf children living in the area. The nearest specialized education
services were located in Madaba city-some 15km away. The high cost of
transportation means that many parents simply withdraw their children from
education, which made it even harder for them to integrate fully in social and
economic life. In spite of numerous complaints by the families, nothing had
been done to remedy this situation. The Makana team launched a campaign of
action.
Makana
action
Makana women
carried out a survey into the problem and found 14 children with hearing
difficulties. They were able to use this evidence as leverage to persuade the
Ministry of Education to meet its statutory obligations and to provide a
classroom and a teacher. For the families, this has led to positive benefits
both financially and personally. The families save money on transport but
far more importantly, they take comfort in knowing that their child's
disability is not a barrier to their ability to claim the fundamental right to
an education.
Achievement
After one
month of follow up with the Ministry of Education through Theeban Directorate
of Education, the classroom was opened and two specialized teachers were
appointed.
"It is
very important to include children with special needs in our society,"
said Ali Mashaleh, head of Theeban Directorate of Education. "By
establishing the class in the local school, the students will have a chance to
mingle with other children, which will make them feel that they are not left
out."
Up until
now, only four children have managed to attend the class. The remaining ten children
still face problems with transport as some of them live in Al Jabal area, 25km
away from Mleih. The newly established class currently includes elementary
schoolchildren. "It's just the first step," said Mashaleh, with a
promise to expand the services for children with hearing difficulties so it
would include all learning levels for everybody in the area.
In class,
the instructors teach basic skills such as writing, reading and speaking. The
children also learn sign language but only the very basics. "It's the
parents' wish that we concentrate on developing their speaking abilities rather
than sign language in order to give the students a better opportunity in
society," said one of the teachers.
The teacher
asked Farah to say her name. She responded with a smile and excitement despite
the difficulty she finds in pronouncing words. The explanation for her
happiness is one simple thing: the joy of learning.
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All
children have an equal right to an education.
It is our duty to ensure that
they get it.
"It is
very important to include children with special needs in our society,"
said Ali Mashaleh, head of Theeban Directorate of Education.
"By
establishing the class in the local school, the students will have a chance to
mingle with other children, which will make them feel that they are not left
out."
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