Pupils to write sign language as matric exam
Inclusive school first group in Mpumalanga
Pupils from an inclusive school in Mpumalanga will be the first group to write a sign language matric exam paper in the province next year.
Speaking to Sowetan during a visit to Bukhosibetfu Inclusive School in Driekoppies, outside Malalane, education MEC Bonakele Majuba said this should encourage parents not to hide their children with disabilities because there are schools to cater for their different needs across the province.
Inclusive schools cater for both abled and children with special education needs. Bukhosibetfu has 1,123 pupils. Of those, 467 have special educational needs like autism, intellectual delays and the deaf.
A group of 220 pupils will be doing sign language as a matric
exam next year.
The school, which was opened in 2009, caters for pupils in grades R to 12.
“We are proud to say that for the first time next year, the Mpumalanga province is going to have grade 12 examinanot
tion for sign language. These learners are doing grade 11 [at this school this year].
“We thank the school management, parents and teachers who are trained to teach learners with special needs. We are therefore calling for parents
to hide children who have special needs at home but bring them to school.
“Let parents go to any nearby school and get the child registered.
We have specialists in the department to help learners; they must always know that,” said Majuba.
In 2018, the department of basic education recognised sign language as an official home language.
School governing body chairperson Busisiwe Sibiya said what makes their school special is that parents are playing a part in making sure that they educate their children who don’t have special needs to treat their peers with learning and physical challenges with respect and not to bully them.
“We work together. You will understand that some learners will tease and insult or not respect the learners with special needs but here, parents play a very important role and teach their children to do good,” said Sibiya.
Pupil Glenrose Khoza said she and other pupils don’t see anything wrong with helping or caring for their schoolmates with challenges.
“We are learning very well and we care for our peers with special needs. We help them clean up whenever they make a mistake and drop something like food,” she said.
Majuba said the department has started building a school for the deaf in Emalahleni.
Of the 1,600 schools across the province, 120 are inclusive schools.