The British High Commission has presented 13 laptops to the National Association of the Deaf Lesotho (NADL) at an event held in Maseru on Thursday.
The Chairperson of the NADL Mr. Letseka Ntlale said it had been long seeking assistance with learning aid for two deaf students at Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) known as ”Fokothi” and one from Lesotho College of Education (LCE).
He said they are glad that through the British High Commission’s help, such students will be able to learn like other students without much struggle as they used to.
He, therefore, thanked the British High Commission for the gift of laptops.
In his speech, the British High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Mr. Harry Mcdonald said one of their areas is to ensure that they leave no one behind when it comes to education and hence have programmes that deal with issues of inclusive education.
He said sign language must be one of the official languages in Lesotho because it serves many people in the country.
Apart from that, he said education must work towards embracing everyone’s talent, that is to unlock capabilities.
Mr. Mcdonald mentioned that the British High Commission has presented six scholarships to Basotho nationals doing sign language to further their studies in the United Kingdom, saying they will be leaving in August.
The NADL Director, Mrs. Bongiwe Busi said the use of technology has made things much easier for them unlike when they had nothing to depend on as a means of learning.
She said they are thankful that the British High Commission responded to their proposal because now their members can perform well at school.
She noted that the other 10 laptops will be at the NADL office to help other deaf people to perform their duties whenever they want to.
Mr. Rethabile Mahlelebe from LP and Dr Moeketsi Letele from LCE mentioned that admitting such students to their programs came with a lot of challenges due to a lack of resources.
They said each student has two interpreters, the one who interprets during lectures and the one who takes notes.
They mentioned that now that the British High Commission has presented laptops to these students, they are aiming high, and this will prove to everyone that despite their disability, these students are capable of achieving their dreams.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Mpone Chale passed her heartfelt gratitude to the British High Commission and NADL.
She said this act has brought so much happiness to them and has changed their self-confidence.
She promised that they are going to make use of the laptops to upgrade their schoolwork.
NADL is a non-profit making organisation dedicated to a better quality of life for deaf people in Lesotho and around the world. One of its missions is to create a world accessible for deaf people where education, information and other service provision are reached through sign language.
Source: LENA 20/07/2023
