Frash Adash by artist Tesfahun Kebede

Frash Adash by artist Tesfahun Kebede. Halima, who is also a member of the Parents and Teacher’s Committee, is involved in her child’s affairs. Together with concerned teachers and parents, Halima took the issue of access to sign language to the school officials, the woreda, the sub-city, and the Ministry of Education. 

Unfortunately, they did not get a satisfactory answer. “Most of the parents are not interested in the education of these children. This is a dumping site for the parents so they can be out of their sight and many officials see these students as a burden,” Halima says.

The Ethiopian Deaf Association offers free sign language classes and gives transportation money for those who want to take the classes but, according to Halima, most parents with deaf children do not want to learn sign language. In that regard, these children do not receive the necessary support from the school and their parents.

Proud of her son’s effort, she says that his spirit is breaking by the day since most of the teachers do not know sign language, and even those who know sign language do not know how to teach mathematics, science, and other subjects.

“I know he is a smart kid but he is not learning at all,” Halima says. Though Halima offers to help, he is a proud child who persists in not needing help from his mother. However, nowadays his sister seems to get involved in his world where they are collectively supporting him to excel.

Osman is one of a kind to have this support but in that school, there are grade eight students who cannot do basic writing or reading. Alem Geremew is one of the teachers in Yekati 23. She says that it breaks her heart to see the situation of the children.