Sign language interpreters for students with hearing difficulties

Sign language interpreters will assist students with hearing difficulties, Education Minister Louis Galea said yesterday.

This was being done following an agreement between the ministry and the Association for the Deaf.

There are 10 deaf students - four in primary and secondary schools and the rest at MCAST - who need the services of interpreters. The service is being provided by three full-timers, Dr Galea said during a press conference.

The service is based on a recommendation made in the Spiteri Report, which consists of the findings of a group that had been set up to analyse several aspects of education and make recommendations for improvement.

The group, led by former Finance Minister Lino Spiteri, had come up with 71 recommendations.

The provision of sign language interpreters was one of the services listed because several children with hearing problems were finding it difficult to progress in mainstream schools.

The minister said that, previously, students who wished to take up further studies could not do so because such a service was not available.