Bid to open horizons for deaf students

THE government has committed to ensuring all students leave school sufficiently qualified in either academics or applied sciences to choose freely among job opportunities, pursue tertiary education and eventually have a career.

As part of this effort, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology intends to forge academic partnerships with tertiary institutions that offer special services that hearing impaired students require, the ministry's superintendent for the Northwestern District Howard Newbold said.

"We plan to take bold steps to make certain that hearing impaired students have wider career path choices after graduating from high school, including being able to matriculate directly into tertiary institutions, locally and abroad," he said.

Mr Newbold addressed the graduation and prize giving ceremony at the Centre for the Deaf on behalf of Education, Science and Technology Minister Jerome Fitzgerald on June 14.

Efforts will be made to ensure that special schools are included in national programmes being developed in education, Mr Newbold said.

"There is no reason why students from the Centre for the Deaf cannot participate in national programmes such as the Technical Cadet Corps Programme, the Future Teachers of the Bahamas Programme, or the National Arts and Craft Programme for young, gifted Bahamian artists.

"My Ministry fully embraces the decisive role it plays in guiding our special students toward personal empowerment as well.

"We all agree that education is the key to both personal and national empowerment and so we must work collaboratively to improve access to education, not only in academic subjects but in the applied sciences as well," Mr Newbold said.

He extended congratulations to parents and guardians for the effort invested in the graduates and commended principal Tessa Nottage, the administrators and teachers, and the neighbouring schools for the partnerships that they have established to provide physical education instruction and vocational education for the students.

"Equally as important to ensuring that your students develop that "culture of excellence" you envision, are your external community partnerships and it is incumbent upon us to solidify those industry partnerships that can facilitate long-term structured job training experiences for students of the Centre for The Deaf," he said.

He acknowledged the business firms that opened their doors to the six graduating students allowing them to facilitate their Job Experience Programme and to St Michael's Methodist Church for making possible the school's Tennis Programme.

Comments

positiveinput says...

Thats good Mr. Fitzgerald. Dont be apart of the talkers (Mr. Bell). Keep up the good work and dedication. Oh and thumbs up to Mr Newbold. From C. H. Reeves time you made sure encourage all students to achieve the very best in life and never gave up on us. Thank You.

Posted 20 June 2012, 4:13 a.m. Suggest removal

positiveinput says...

Speaking of the impact your encouragement had on students especially myself, todays teachers need a little one on one from individuals like yourself (Mr. Howard Newbold). Just the mere presence of a person like yourself made a student act in the most mannerly way. And no it was not out of fear, it was because of the way you encourage us (students) to respect ourselves. That level of respect you required us to have for ourselves was helpful in everyway possible. (1) It made us as students take pride in our appearance.
(2) As students, we took pride in our education
(3) As students whom respected ourselves, we respected others.

More teachers like you need to come around to ensure that when the parents runs that first leg of education and discipline this race could be completed in a winning position.

Posted 20 June 2012, 4:42 a.m. Suggest removal

nicolae says...

This is a great initiative. A great <a href="http://www.bopngrill.com/earn-your-degr…">degree</a> could give you the possibility to get a good job and every children should have this opportunity

Posted 14 December 2012, 4:46 p.m. Suggest removal

TheFixer says...

It's very important to help deaf students so the can also have a<a href="http://benoticed.org/the-top-five-degre…">corporate career</a> like any normal person. Everybody deserves a chance even if a person has disabilities.

Posted 15 January 2013, 12:13 p.m. Suggest removal

nicolae says...

I want to see more similar acts made by governement. It`s great that they will be helped. I think that on every school or college should exist people who can give advices or <a href="http://mixedinterest.com/blog/4-effecti…">tips for students</a>.

Posted 31 January 2013, 10:36 a.m. Suggest removal

dudu says...

If you're deaf it doesn't mean that you have to <a href="http://www.ourbusinessnews.com/how-to-h…">follow basic etiquette</a> and to remain in silent. It's very good that someone tries to help this students, to give them a chance for life.

Posted 2 February 2013, 6:34 a.m. Suggest removal

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