10 Jul 2013

It is important that all Batswana are educated and skilled irrespective of their mental or physical capacities, the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi has said.

Officiating at the Botswana Society for the Deaf (BSD) Information and Education Exposition in Francistown on Monday, July 8, Mr Masisi said Vision 2016 advocates for an informed and educated nation; thus for the ideal to be achieved, there is need for an inclusive society.

The minister stressed that knowledge is power for everybody including the deaf as information and education can be unlocked.

He also said since it has been revealed that deaf people perform better at ‘hands on’ or practical subjects as they learn through the visual sense, therefore they can be empowered to play a significant role in the development of their communities and the nation.

“There is untapped potential in these citizens and their potential needs to be unlocked and tapped through information and education,” he said.

Minister Masisi challenged every Motswana to learn sign language in order to address the communication gap between themselves and the deaf.

He also informed the gathering that the Office of the Coordinator of People Living With Disabilities in his ministry recently organized a sign language course for the ministry’s officers in order to address the communication gap.

He pointed out that he ensures that People with Disabilities are given priority in the Poverty Eradication programme, adding that there is need for other government empowerment programmes to follow suit.

Earlier BSD executive director, Ms Orapeleng Mokgosi said their mandate is to protect and promote the welfare and interests of the deaf population of Botswana.

Ms Mokgosi said the society was established in 1979 in Ramotswa with only six students, but has since grown to have a second centre in Francistown.

BSD chairperson, Mr Roy Letsatsi said the objective of the expo was to impress upon the hearing impaired people that they need one another.

He said it is also aimed at sensitizing service providers about the needs of the hearing impaired people.

Mr Letsatsi appreciated the help received fromgovernment in the running of the two centres, but however observed that the two centres are congested yet not all the deaf people are enrolled.

 The theme of the expo was ‘Information and Education to all; Basic Human Right.' ENDS