26 Nov 2015

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Mr Moiseraele Goya has told Parliament that his ministry has adopted an inclusive education policy (2011) which means that all learners will access education equitably in all schools and as such Special Education Needs (SEN) learners would join their nearest school where all teachers would be able to assist them.

He said the idea can only be realised following the appropriate training of teachers and also the production of relevant learning materials and review of the curriculum. Mr Goya stated that they still have a long way to go to realise the vision of inclusive education.

However he said the ministry is currently reviewing the senior secondary schools curriculum and is planning to introduce sign language at that level in 2017.

He said the adoption of the revised senior secondary curriculum and the sign language introduction at that level would then be followed by reviews of the other curricula including basic education and even tertiary education level to accommodate and facilitate the introduction of sign language.

MP for Ramotswa Mr Samuel Rantuana had asked the minister to state as to when sign language  will be included in the curriculum at primary and secondary schools and whether it is not time the language is made part of the mainstream education even at tertiary level. Ends