Africa-Press – Botswana. Government departments, civil society organisations and the private sector have been called upon to provide for the growing demand for sign language training.
“Sign Language interpreters must be trained and utilised across all service points in all sectors,” said the Director of National Disability Coordinating Office, Ms Peggy Garebaitse during the official launch of International Sign Language Day and Deaf Awareness Week Commemoration in Ramotswa on Friday.
The International Sign Language Day and Deaf Awareness Week is an initiative of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to raise awareness of the importance of sign language in the full realization of the human rights of deaf people.
Ms Garebaitse said having a day set aside to celebrate the deaf people’s unique medium of communication does not only encourage and uplift them, but is also an opportunity for the society to recognise the importance of supporting and preserving this distinctive linguistic identity.
The Coordinator of Public Sector Reforms (Office of the President), Mr Thuso Ramodimoosi said Botswana has over 16 800 deaf people, and to attain the Vison 2036 aspiration of “prosperity for all”, it is imperative for society to intensify efforts to enhance collective participation, meaningful involvement and to build an inclusive society without perceiving disability as inability.
Mr Ramodimoosi said there were key initiatives undertaken by the government to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, including their participation in all spheres of life.
He said the Language Policy, which included adoption of sign language as a medium of instruction in schools, was adopted in 2021.
Botswana Association for the Deaf (BOAD) Executive Director, Ms Shirley Keoagile said despite Botswana’s efforts to include them as differently abled persons, there is still a need to improve teaching aides’ skills in different educational institutions. She suggested that professional sign language interpreters be placed in all public service institutions to make it easier for disabled or deaf people to access quality services at all times.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
