Scholarships for deaf students

A local bank has unveiled $5 000 for scholarships for students with hearing impairments to undertake teacher training at the United College of Education in Bulawayo.

The scholarships worth $5 000, handed over to four of the five beneficiaries at the People's Own Savings Bank (POSB) Causeway headquarters in Harare, have been hailed as a lifeline that will allow the students with hearing impairments a chance to access tertiary education.

Deaf Zimbabwe Trust executive director Ms Barbara Nyangairi says there is need for more resources to be allocated for individuals living with disability as education is vital in ensuring that they too become economically empowered.

POSB public relations manager Simukayi Mutamangira says the plight of the students was one which could not be ignored and this is one way of giving back to the community.

Deaf pupils face a number of problems in the classroom such as learning without interpreters in conventional classroom.

An allocation of US$20 000 for special needs in the last budget also fails to provide hope towards the sector's search to attain education.