Nancy School for the Deaf Operating Without Sign Language Interpreters

BY SPURB ERNEST

Nancy Primary School for the Deaf in Lira City is facing significant challenges in its efforts to provide quality education to its 338 learners with various forms of disability

The school currently operates with only two professional sign language interpreters to serve its diverse student body. 

In addition to the interpreters, the school has 11 teaching staff, with five of them having some knowledge of sign language but not trained as professional interpreters

Mike Opio, the head teacher of the school, explained that many classes are often conducted without interpreters, making it difficult for students to understand the lessons. 

For instance, 59 candidates from the school sat for the 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), but none scored a first grade

Out of the candidates, 26 passed in second grade, 6 in third grades 11 in fourth grade, and 16 received division U

However, Eunice Ageno, a teacher at the school, highlighted the impact of inadequate learning materials for children with visual impairments

She pointed out the difficulty of teaching these children without sufficient resources, such as braille materials

Ageno also criticized parents for prioritizing the education of “so-called normal children” over that of children with special needs, further hindering their educational opportunities