Academic’s Research in Deaf School Commended by MEC

BY: .

Lecturer within the School of Education, Mr Bhekisisa Maxwell Thabethe recently made a request to the provincial Department of Education to conduct research in a deaf school and was thereby given the green light for his study that tackles teaching Technology and Mathematics within such schools.

‘I spoke to provincial MEC for the Department of Social Development (DSD) Weziwe Thusi about my professional development including the study that I am pursuing on deaf learners. The study has the potential to contribute effectively on disability in general. It will enhance the rendezvous of DSD and DoE in providing equivalent support to deaf communities,’ said Thabethe.

He was also invited to the official opening of the provincial parliament in which the entire study was intended to be discussed in relation to the MEC’s Department. Thusi added that Thabethe’s study will add an informed value to her Department.

Thabethe is humbled by the opportunity and is prepared to learn in the field of research so that the knowledge gained through his experiences can be put on paper in a professional way.

‘There is always a cry in our growing democracy that technology skills in South Africa are lacking, yet there is a non-utilised human resource in disabled communities. My hypothesis is that we need to conduct research in disabled communities so that we can provide therapeutic support that will enhance an appropriate understanding of gateway subjects to vulnerable population.’

Thabethe is still conducting this research but he is aiming to complete another research paper on Albinism. Speaking about this future research venture, he said: ‘Albinism is a newly adopted disability that has been in existence from ages. A controversy of this disability brought about different beliefs and myths in different communities. Some of these beliefs minimise a participation of learners in education.’

‘However, I wish to explore the threshold of technology in people with albinism and bring a professional perspective on the issue of Albinism. We have experienced brutal killings and permanent loss of children with Albinism in Kwazulu-Natal which provides an indicator of symptoms of albino killing in Tanzania.’

Melissa Mungroo