Briefing on Education on Sign Language Mrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive Officer Friday, 20 June 2008 Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of

Briefing on Education on Sign Language Briefing on Education on Sign Language

Mrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive OfficerMrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive Officer

Friday, 20 June 2008Friday, 20 June 2008

Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled People Persons, Room V227 Old Assemblyand Disabled People Persons, Room V227 Old Assembly

Parliament, Cape TownParliament, Cape Town

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PART APART A

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

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Intro… Intro…

Legislative MandateLegislative Mandate

PanSALB derives its legislative mandate from the Constitution PanSALB derives its legislative mandate from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the PanSALB Act 59 of 1995 of the Republic of South Africa, the PanSALB Act 59 of 1995 as amended in 1999 and the PanSALB Regulations.as amended in 1999 and the PanSALB Regulations.

The powers and functions of the Board are to:The powers and functions of the Board are to: (a)(a) Make recommendations with regard to any proposed Make recommendations with regard to any proposed

or or existing legislation, practice and policy dealing directly existing legislation, practice and policy dealing directly or or indirectly with language matters at any level of indirectly with language matters at any level of government, government, and with regard to any proposed amendments and with regard to any proposed amendments to or the repeal to or the repeal or replacement of such legislation, or replacement of such legislation, practice and policy;practice and policy;

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Intro…Intro…The powers and functions of the BoardThe powers and functions of the Board

are to:are to:

(b)(b) Make recommendations to organs of state Make recommendations to organs of state at all at all levels of government where it considers levels of government where it considers such such action advisable for the adoption of action advisable for the adoption of measures measures aimed at the promotion of aimed at the promotion of multilingualism within the multilingualism within the framework of the framework of the Constitution;Constitution;

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Intro…Intro…The powers and functions (cont.)The powers and functions (cont.)

(c) (c) Actively promote an awareness of multilingualism as a Actively promote an awareness of multilingualism as a national national resource;resource;

(d)(d) Actively promote the development of the previously Actively promote the development of the previously marginalised marginalised languages;languages;

(e)(e) Initiate studies and research aimed at promoting and Initiate studies and research aimed at promoting and creating creating conditions for conditions for the development and use of the development and use of (i) all the official languages of the Republic; (i) all the official languages of the Republic; (ii) Khoe and San languages; and, (ii) Khoe and San languages; and, (iii) South African Sign Language.(iii) South African Sign Language.

(f)(f) Promote and ensure respect for all other languages Promote and ensure respect for all other languages commonly used commonly used by communities in South Africa;by communities in South Africa;

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Intro…Intro…

The powers and functions (cont.)The powers and functions (cont.)

(g)(g) Advise on the co-ordination of language planning in South Advise on the co-ordination of language planning in South Africa;Africa;

(h)(h) Facilitate co-operation with language planning agencies Facilitate co-operation with language planning agencies outside South outside South Africa;Africa;

(i)(i) Establish Provincial Language Committees and National Establish Provincial Language Committees and National Bodies to Bodies to advise it on any language matter affecting a advise it on any language matter affecting a province or a specific province or a specific language; andlanguage; and

(j)(j) Establish National Lexicography Units to operate as Establish National Lexicography Units to operate as companies limited companies limited by guarantee under section 21 of the by guarantee under section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973); and 61 of 1973); and allocate allocate funds to the units for the fulfilment of their funds to the units for the fulfilment of their functions.functions.

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Intro…Intro…

The powers and functions (cont.)The powers and functions (cont.)

In terms of Section 4 of the PanSALB Act, the Board is an In terms of Section 4 of the PanSALB Act, the Board is an independent organ of state, subject only to the Constitution and independent organ of state, subject only to the Constitution and its founding legislation and must perform its duties without fear, its founding legislation and must perform its duties without fear, favour or prejudice. All organs of state are enjoined to cooperate favour or prejudice. All organs of state are enjoined to cooperate with the Board and may not interfere with the function of the with the Board and may not interfere with the function of the Board in its execution of its mandate.Board in its execution of its mandate.

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Intro…Intro…VisionVision

To achieve the equal status and use of all official languages of To achieve the equal status and use of all official languages of South AfricaSouth Africa

MissionMission

To provide for the recognition, the promotion and the development To provide for the recognition, the promotion and the development of all South African languages, with particular attention being given of all South African languages, with particular attention being given to those languages that were previously marginalizedto those languages that were previously marginalized

ValuesValues

Respect for all languages in South AfricaRespect for all languages in South Africa Equal treatment of all languages in South AfricaEqual treatment of all languages in South Africa Non discrimination on the basis of languageNon discrimination on the basis of language

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Intro..Purpose

Create conditions for; Multilingualism by developing and promoting

equal use and status of all official languages National unity and respect for the Bill of Rights as

it pertains to respect and cultural tolerance of all languages and restoration of dignity of formally marginalised languages

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Intro…Purpose

See to the Implementation of; Language policies at all levels of government Language development plans, projects and

initiatives Appropriate research in support of language

development All measures meant to protect and support

Constitutional democracy with respect to language

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Intro…Purpose

Be agents of change by; Promoting public dialogue to change mindsets

and attitudes to language Promoting the value of indigenous languages Monitoring the application of language legislation Advising government on linguistic matters

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PART BPART B

SERVICE DELIVERYSERVICE DELIVERY

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BackgroundBackground

South African Sign Language (SASL) is South African Sign Language (SASL) is recognized and used as a first language by recognized and used as a first language by approximately 500 000 Deaf South Africans. approximately 500 000 Deaf South Africans.

Since 1996, SASL has been officially Since 1996, SASL has been officially recognized as the language of learning and recognized as the language of learning and teaching for the majority of Deaf learners in teaching for the majority of Deaf learners in South Africa. South Africa.

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Government policies also acknowledge Government policies also acknowledge SASL as the means through which Deaf SASL as the means through which Deaf people become economically and people become economically and intellectually empowered. intellectually empowered.

This in turn has increased the awareness This in turn has increased the awareness of the need for accessible social and legal of the need for accessible social and legal services, equal education opportunities services, equal education opportunities and therefore, SASL interpreter services.and therefore, SASL interpreter services.

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Because of a lack of awareness in the South African society, Because of a lack of awareness in the South African society, Deaf people experience language barriers in public sectors. Deaf people experience language barriers in public sectors.

This means that there is a great need for professionals in This means that there is a great need for professionals in different fields to learn SASL in order to provide efficient different fields to learn SASL in order to provide efficient access to service. Also, this will help Deaf people to access to service. Also, this will help Deaf people to

contribute equally to the South African economycontribute equally to the South African economy..

PanSALB has since established a National Language Body PanSALB has since established a National Language Body (NLB) for Sign Language and appointed a SASL practitioner (NLB) for Sign Language and appointed a SASL practitioner to service the NLB. to service the NLB.

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Summary of PanSALB Interventions Training and Public Awareness in Northern Cape

Initiatives Challenges

In 2007 two workshops were organised by PanSALB in the Northern Cape.

These workshops were organised in partnerships with the DEAFSA national head office and Northern Cape branch.

The workshops were supported by the Siyanda district municipality based in Upington and the Emthanjeni local municipality based in De Aar.

The workshops reached more than 1000 people. They were attended by Deaf people, their families and relatives, police officers, nurses, community development workers, educators, councillors, municipal officials, the media and ordinary community members.

The aim of the workshops was promoting South African Sign Language (SASL) and Deaf culture in the provision of service delivery.

• There is still high unemployment rate and discrimination towards Deaf people in most provincial state departments.

• There is no school for Deaf people in the Northern Cape.

• There is still violation of linguistic rights of Deaf people provincially. One example which was cited is when police handcuff the Deaf for arrest, they fail to read them their rights.

• There is not a single Deaf person who is employed at the departments that were visited by PanSALB which included the following: SAPS, Health, Social Services, De Aar and Upington district municipalities.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in North West


From 2005-2007 PanSALB conducted workshops for parents of Deaf students at Kutlwanong and Leeuwdoringstad schools respectively.

About 150 parents were taught sign language to facilitate easy communication with their children during school vacations.

We are currently planning a workshop for community members of the Merafong Municipality.

In 2008 PanSALB recommended two students who are ultimately received bursaries to study sign language at Wits University. Funding was sponsored by the Department of Arts and Culture in the Northern West.

• The project has been discontinued due to lack of funding.

• Presently there are no known accredited service providers of sign language in the Northern West.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Gauteng


On 4-8 September 2006, PanSALB facilitated Sign language, training for front line workers at the Pretoria Academic Hospital. This training was to equip front line workers of the Hospital with basic Sign language in order to ensure effective communication towards the Deaf clients visiting the hospital on a daily basis.

20 frontline workers were trained and certified.

PanSALB provided funding for the for SASL interpreters for the groundbreaking conference on early childhood and deafness held in August 2007 entitled: Building Bridges in Africa: Early Childhood Development for Children with Hearing Loss organised by the University of Witwatersrand: Centre for Studies. The conference focused on early intervention for Deaf babies.

• Workers in most public institutions are not conversant in Sign language, as a result these creates a barrier in service delivery.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Gauteng


On 30 November 2006 PanSALB facilitated a provincial Sign language interpreters workshop.

70 interpreters attended the workshop and deliberated on the challenges faced by Sign language interpreters in Gauteng.

At the end of the workshop a task team comprising of PanSALB, Department of Education, SASLINC, Gauteng Provincial Language Committee and the Department of SRAC was formed.

The task team was formed to look at the drafting of South African Sign Language interpreters guidelines document.

On 20 September 2007 PanSALB in cooperation with DEAFSA hosted a schools debate for Deaf learners. Almost all the schools for the Deaf in Gauteng were represented.

Lack of guidelines leads to mushrooming of private companies who exploits the Deaf.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Free State


PanSALB is funding training of 10 South African Sign Language interpreters in the Free State .

Then trained candidates will receive accreditation and be placed on the PanSALB data base of Sign Language interpreters in the Free State.

The project is joint venture with the organisations that are representing the Deaf community (DEAFSA, NDISISA, and PASASLI)

PanSALB is funding a project that is developing teaching and learning material in Sign Language.

This is in partnership with the University of the Free State . Materials will be launched on 26 September 2008.

• There are only 3 qualified Sign language interpreters conducting training at the three tertiary institutions in the Free State

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Limpopo


Between 2006-07 PanSALB in the province conducted basic South African Sign Language training in the following hospitals:

Name Date Financed by Attendees

Polokwane 10-13 April 06 Sports, Arts and Culture

20

Knobel 18-21 September 06

PanSALB 20

Mankweng 06-10 November 06

Mankweng hospital 20

Polokwane 29 May 06 and 01 June 06

Polokwane hospital 20

Lebowakgomo 03-07 Sep 07 and 03-08 Sep 07

Lebowakgomo hospital

20

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Limpopo


On 04 September 07, during the Deaf week PanSALB in collaboration with the Deaf Federation of Limpopo submitted a memorandum to the Office of the Premier for SASL to be recognised as one of the official languages of South Africa.

On 06 November 2007 workshop for parents and siblings of Deaf Children was organised.

In July 2008 there would be SASL training for hospitals.

In August 2008 there would be a follow up workshop for Deaf parents.

From 1-7 September 2008 there would be a Deaf awareness festival.

• Most teachers who are teaching in Deaf schools have limited knowledge of Deaf language, as a result they can’t Sign for instance scientific terms.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in the Western Cape


In 2005-06 PanSALB funded the centre for the Deaf in Worcester to establish an infrastructure for the development of SASL and training the Deaf.

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Summary of PanSALB InterventionsTraining and Public Awareness in Mpumalanga


On 25 January 2008 the SASL National Language Body held a workshop on the use of SASL interpreters at Thanduxolo Special School in Witbank.

This workshop was organised in collaboration with Mpumalanga DEAFSA and funded by PanSALB.

The purpose of the workshop was to inform and educate the Deaf community about:

The availability of SASL interpretersThe code of ethics of SASL interpretersThe linguistic rights of the DeafThe role of the PanSALB translation an interpreting focus area

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Key Initiatives for 2008/09Key Initiatives for 2008/09

PanSALB plans to undertake the following projects amongst others during PanSALB plans to undertake the following projects amongst others during 2008/09:2008/09:

Reviewing the dictionary for the Deaf.Reviewing the dictionary for the Deaf.

Establishing a National Lexicography Unit (NLU) for SASL that will be responsible for Establishing a National Lexicography Unit (NLU) for SASL that will be responsible for compiling a document on spelling and orthography of SASL. compiling a document on spelling and orthography of SASL.

Establish a Language in Education technical committee within the SASL NLB to look into the Establish a Language in Education technical committee within the SASL NLB to look into the

implementation of the language in education policy as far as SASL is concerned.implementation of the language in education policy as far as SASL is concerned. Through the SA High Commissioner in Malawi Mrs. Tsheole will create linkages between Through the SA High Commissioner in Malawi Mrs. Tsheole will create linkages between

Deaf schools in SA and Malawi.Deaf schools in SA and Malawi. The High Commissioner is leading this processThe High Commissioner is leading this process. .

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Thank YouThank You

Documents

Briefing on Education on Sign Language Mrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive Officer Friday, 20 June 2008 Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of