Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina has called on the government to make sign language a compulsory subject in Kenya.
The Member of Parliament says the government should make sign language a compulsory subject as part of the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Inclusion of the language, Maina argues, will play a great role in easing communication between people with impaired hearing and the rest of society.
Speaking in Kerugoya town during the celebration of the International Week for the Deaf, Njeri pointed out that the task force committee set to be formed by the government to review CBC implementation should consider sign language as part of the system.
“The task force once formed should focus on introducing mandatory learning of sign language in our institutions so that the deaf community can be able to integrate with the rest of the society so that they can partake in the society equally,” she said.
The legislator’s sentiments were echoed by Dorothy Muriuki who noted that some of the teachers posted to teach in schools for the deaf are not fully conversant with sign language.
This communication barrier, Muriuki, who has a hearing impairment, said makes learning difficult.
“We are requesting the government to ensure that there are enough sign language teachers in schools to assist children in learning,” she added.
At the same time, the Maina lamented over the alleged harassment of business owners living with disabilities by county officials.
She urged county governments to streamline the county revenue department to protect the vulnerable group.
“The Deaf Community has expressed concern over the harassment by county officials over revenue remittances and business license, but there is an Act which protects PWDs which calls for at least 5 per cent of employment should be set for them but nothing seems to happen,” the lawmaker said.
