Question NW3117 to the Minister of Basic Education
09 October 2023 - NW3117
Ceza, Mr K to ask the Minister of Basic Education
What steps has she and/or her department taken to ensure that blind persons are provided with the necessary tools such as Braille Machines, Braille Printers, Computers and Audio Technology, as early as at basic education level, so as to enforce their rights to dignity and equality as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic, 1996?
Reply:
In 2017, the Minister appointed the Advisory Committee on Provisioning for Learners with Visual Impairments, whose terms of reference include the following:
- Identifying challenges related to the education of learners with visual impairment and advise on mediation, best practices, and resources;
- Advising on ongoing development, printing and delivery of Learning and Teaching Support Materials, including assistive technology and devices; and
- Advising on training programmes and resource toolkits to capacitate educators, teacher aides and school support staff to achieve excellence in the field of visual impairment.
In 2021, the DBE purchased over 26 master copies of Braille and Large Print language textbooks from Pioneer printers and Blind SA service providers. The master copies were uploaded on the DBE website for schools to download, reproduce or print for learners with visual impairment. Subsequently, the link was forwarded to provinces to ensure easy access for them to support schools. For the past six (6) years, the Department of Basic Education has provided Braille workbooks in Mathematics, Home Languages and Life Skills for Grades 1- 9. The Braille textbooks are procured by provinces directly from services providers.
One of the priorities identified for special schools for the Blind has been the improvement of teacher competencies in Braille. For instance, in 2022/23, 84 teachers were trained in Braille. The training of teachers in specialised areas, such as Braille, is an indicator in the Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Basic Education.
Provinces continue to procure ICT-related gadgets that cater for learners with special educational needs. The provinces that are doing so, are using a tranversal tender under the Chief Procurement Officer at National Treasury to procure identified ICT-related gadgets. Constant training and support is provided to the provinces by the service providers of these ICT-related gadgets.