Deaf Today: First school for the deaf and hearing opens its doors

January 15, 2003

First school for the deaf and hearing opens its doors

From: SABC News, South Africa - 15 Jan 2003

The first inclusive primary school for deaf and normal hearing children opened its doors in Queenswood, Pretoria today. This is the first school of its kind in South Africa.

Eduplex Primary School took in 21 grade ones and six of them are deaf. It's a school with a difference, because deaf and normal hearing learners sit in the same class and receive the same tuition without sign language. The school caters for English and Afrikaans learners.

Rosa Kleyn, the head of the school, said that this school provided hearing-impaired children with the same opportunities as those children who have normal hearing.

The deaf children undergo a strict selection process to make sure they can be taught alongside normal hearing children.