Deaf people face teacher shortages, communication, education challenges: Teachers — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): Teachers at the Vocational Institute for the Deaf in Kabul have called for greater support for deaf people, sign-language training for families, and improved educational and employment opportunities, saying shortages of qualified teachers and learning materials, along with communication barriers, remain among their main challenges. World Deaf Day is observed annually on 30 September to raise awareness of the rights, needs, education, social participation and equal opportunities of deaf and hard-of-hearing people. The day also highlights the importance of ensuring access to education, social services, employment opportunities and effective communication, including through sign language. ‘Deaf people should be treated with respect’ Najibullah Rezaei, a teacher at the Vocational Institute for the Deaf in Kabul, once studied at the same institute and now teaches painting to deaf students. He said he had been teaching at the institute for eight years and had graduated in deaf psychology in Kabul. He added that, because of his strong interest in art, he chose to work as a teacher in the painting section. According to Rezaei, students who enrol at the institute show a strong interest in art, and teachers refer them to the art section for further training. He said painting, network weaving and visual arts are taught in the section. Rezaei called on government institutions to do more to promote education…