Phalombe Secondary School gets vibrating watches from Manad

Learners with hearing impairment at Phalombe Secondary School will no longer need alerts of lunch break or study time from their schoolmates following a donation of four vibrating wrist watches from Malawi National Association of the Deaf (Manad).

Speaking after receiving the watches on Friday, Penjani Mwale, a Form Four deaf student, said the wrist-watches are handy.

“Having these tailor-made watches will enable us follow and be in touch with school proceedings just like our colleagues. The watches will also be helpful during examination period as we will be able to get time alerts,” said Mwale.

Symon Mandauka, one of the specialist teachers at the school, commended Manad for the donation, saying the wrist-watches will improve the deaf learners’ performance in class.

Manad project officer Bruno Mwase said the organisation donated the watches because most schools ring a bell to alert students of break and study time, but deaf students cannot hear the bell.

“The type of watches we are handing out are specifically made for the deaf because they are set to vibrate instead of ringing. We sourced them from our partners in United States of America. Phalombe Secondary School is the first beneficiary but three other secondary schools will also benefit from the initiative,” he said.

Phalombe Secondary School has 17 deaf students.