Only 30% hearing impaired children get access to education

From: Webindia123, India - Jan 23, 2006

Chennai | January 23, 2006 12:40:31 AM IST


As many as 25,000 children are born with hearing impairments every year and only about 30 per cent of them get access to education, according to the National Convention of Educators of the Deaf (NCED).

''Of the 30 per cent, two-thirds drop out before completing primary levels and hardly ten per cent go beyond the middle level education,'' Guidance for Home for Adult Deaf Girls Director Rita Mary said at a press conference here in connection with a three-day national conference on ''Bettering the education of persons with hearing impairment'', beginning tomorrow.

Tamil Nadu was better compared to other states as there were 34 special schools in the state, she said while stressing on the need for setting up more special schools in the country.

There was also a dearth of trained teachers in the country, Ms Mary said.

About 500 participants from government and non-government organisations from across the country would attend the conference.

Many experts in the field of education, speech and hearing will present papers and interact with the participants, Ms Mary added.

UNI WS GM RR HT1120

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