226000 deaf children out of school , says union

From: East African Standard, Kenya - Jul 2, 2003

Standard Reporter

Two hundred and twenty six thousand children in Kenya with hearing impairments have no access to formal education, the Kenya Society for Kenya Society of the Physically Handicapped (KSPH) has revealed.

The organisation's North Rift Director, Mr Andrew Makokha, said only 23,940 children with hearing problems receive education.

Out of the 23, 940 victims, 12,940 are enrolled in special schools while the remaining 11, 000 are in integrated programmes.

He said most children with hearing impairments are forced to drop out of school due to lack of research on hearing impairment and learning process.

Makokha said lack of teachers fluent in sign language to ensure effective communication and proper curriculum coverage was the major problem affecting education for deaf children in the country.

He said there are only 31 primary schools for the deaf and about 340 teachers in the schools out of which 140 are trained in special education.

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