Hearing impaired pupils need help

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
STUDENTS with hearing impairment can perform well in school if proper education and resources are available, according to a project report.  
The National Hearing Education and Health project reported that there were no facilities and suitable education provided for impaired students resulting in students leaving schools or failing in their studies.
The main reasons were ignorance of teachers in dealing with such students, not understanding the lessons because of hearing impairment and lack of proper materials.
Other reasons include distance to training centres or schools and school fees.
The objective was to provide students with potential or hearing impairment quality education and better health care.
It has established training centres in 13 provinces which are now resourcing schools by training teachers and students with hearing impairment on basic care measures and basic sign languages.
Teachers are expected to effectively communicate with students with  hearing impairment. 
Project director Brother Kevin Ryan said at the National Deafness Education conference in Port Moresby every child with partial or hearing impairment had the right to quality education and basic health care services.
About 5,600 mainstream teachers are trained for the special education of people with impairment.
A total of 72,000 students went through ear checks and 7,941 were found to have hearing problems.
The project, started in 2008 and ended in June this year, was funded by the European Union and Light for the World Austria at a cost of about K4 million.