Mzimba special needs learners short of teachers
Students with hearing difficulties at Mzimba Secondary School are struggling to learn due to the few special needs teachers at the institution.
The revelation was made Saturday at the close of a four-day sign language workshop for parents with such children, organised by Malawi Council for the Handicapped (Macoha) at the boma.
Nicholas Wazili, who teaches students with hearing impairment through sign language, said learners with hearing difficulties at the school are disadvantaged as most teachers are not conversant with sign language.
He said: “With the knowledge I have in sign language, I try to spare some time to assist them [students with hearing difficulties] in Mathematics and Physical Science. However, it is not enough because I am also required to teach regular classes and there are many other subjects they need to learn.”
Apart from the challenges in accessing education, Wazili said students with hearing impairment also have difficulties in interacting with fellow students and members of staff.
Mzimba Macoha project coordinator Jackson Chimowa said the training was aimed at imparting sign language skills in parents who have children with hearing impairment in the district.
Besides parents who have children with hearing impairment, service providers from various offices also participated in the training.
