BY COMR. YUSUF YAHAYA KUMO
(First published by Qualitative Magazine 18th April 2019)
Key Words:- Deaf, Students, Tertiary Institutions.
Before going straight in this article, let me begin with the subject matter by giving a clear definition of each concept in the subject matter, and to critically examine the challenges confronting the concepts in the subject matter then finally suggest some possible solutions regarding the subject matter.
The term “Deaf” has been generally referred to as inability to hear a spoken words or sounds and to some extend inability to speak verbally.
According to Marian Webster English Dictionary; “deaf-not having the faculty of hearing or only partially able to hear”.
However, it is worthy to note that, not all deaf are unable to speak verbally. Some of them especially those who are born as normal and become deaf later, can speak verbally similar or alike to that normal persons.
“Students”: According to Oxford Advance Learner Dictionary; - a person who is learning at a College or University or sometime at school.
Tertiary Institutions:- can simple be referred to as third level or stage relating to Education in college or University. On the other hand it is an institutions of higher learning where various disciplines and areas of specializations are taught e.g. Gombe State University,GSU,FUK BUK,FCE{T}, Gallaudet University GU, LSEPS etc.
it is worthy to note that deaf students are different from other deaf who don’t attend schools at all. In Nigeria, the former are regarded as Educate/literate while the latter as uneducated/illiterate who know little about the society in which they live, their religion, language, culture and the world around them. The former (Educated) know more about the society and its current trends and issues as well as the world around them because “when the mind is liberated through Education the deaf can hear said Arthur C. Clarke. The former mostly exhibit acceptable behavior more than the later. But all deaf ain’t be the same.
Deafness can affect people naturally by birth or caused by faulty or damage in the ear drum after birth or during childhood and maturity period. It comes in different way to different people.
Sometime deafness could be caused by accident, loud noise, sickness, dirty things or using dirty objects to clean the ears and even blow on the ear. One deaf student told me he become deaf as a result of listening too much songs using ear
piece. another deaf student told me he become deaf as result of hot slaps on his ear by his parent when he was kid. other told me it is by accidents. In most case deafness occur naturally. I am using those examples above to urge everyone to take good care of his ears to avoid
losing his hearing. However some kind of
deafness occur unexpectedly that is by the wills of Almighty God and He the Almighty knows the reasons.
TYPE OF DEAF
It is worthy to note that all deaf are not in the same category. broadly speaking we have;
1. A deaf person who can’t hear but can speak/talks (Post lingual deaf person) mostly became deaf after birth /childhood
2. A deaf person cannot hear and cannot speak/talks (pre lingual deaf person mostly born as deaf or affected after birth, during childhood.
3. Those who can hear but cannot talks or
partially speaks.
It is worthy to note that educating the pre lingual and some third category of deaf is not as easy as that of post lingual deaf students why because the post lingual deaf students can speak and can lipread sometimes. In addition those who are born as hearing and become deaf later have some advantages over those who was naturally born as deaf because the former the gained some experience, norms, culture, socialization etc from mixing with hearing counterparts before he/ she become deaf and in most case sometimes can hardly be seen as deaf untill one speaks the language they don’t understand or words they can’t lipread. They also, gained much knowledge, skills and experiences in term of their religion, language, culture, norm and values of our societies right from childhood when they are hearing and learn about them more at schools, home or with their peers after their become deaf.
In Nigeria and many countries, The pre lingual on the other hand, sometime find it difficult to learn the language, norms, culture, values etc. at home because they cant hear and most parents attention are on normal child more than the deaf children as a result of that, they often learn them at schools or mixing with peer groups and other types of secondary socialization. To justify my Assertion, it's simply communication barriers. Why because we Deaf especially the pre linguals in Nigeria mostly Communicate only in English and ASL sign language while most of their parents hardly communicate in English or ASL except their local languages. Only few parents do. One of the reasons I recently wrote article titled The need to Include our local language and sign language in our school curriculum to enable the Deaf learn their local language instead of only English and ASL sign language they are always taught from primary to university. This I argued will improve communication, learning and understanding between Deaf and their agent of socialization especially the first one, families.
Sometime it is difficult to compare the prelingual and post lingual deaf because the former gained more advantage over the latter. But the latter can sometime struggle to gain more knowledge, skills
and experiences than the former. it is a matter of talents, determination, hard work and confidence.
Mrs. Chinyerc, (A Nigerian deaf lawyer
and disable right advocate) has this to say “when you see a prelingual deaf person who can read and write good English and is a University graduate, please doff your hat for them. It is a big feat. they deserve medals of honor, TRULY!"
Of course I agree it is not easy for the deaf, its neither a miracle, but it is a matter of confidence, hard work prayers & determination to excel and success.
CHALLENGES, PROPECTS AND WAY FORWARD.
Being a deaf is not the end of life but a
challenge you need to overcome by believing in yourself that you can makes it no matter situation.
Broadly speaking, deaf students faces a
number of challenges which can sometime affect their studies or hinder them from doing well in their academic, sometime it even led to self withdrawal. in order to fully understand the
challenges confronting the deaf students in higher tertiary institutions, we should look at the roots, causes and affects.
1. FAMILY CHALLENGES:- Life begins with the family & home’s the first place of anyone in any society. Its worthy to note that many deaf student in Nigeria face a number of challenge from home, these challenges includes discrimination/unequal treatment, lacks of care and concerns as well as parental negligence. it is disheartening that a deaf student who, despite his disability, struggled with patience and confidence to complete his finish primary and secondary schools as well as secured admission to study in higher tertiary institution were still
shown little concerns by their parents at home most parents attention are on normal children because they thinks a deaf persons could never success in life like the normal ones due to their wrong perception of the deaf and deafness.some
parents consider deafness as a curse.Imagine…. to be frank, This
nonchalant attitudes against the deaf is not only discouraging but also discriminatory…. in facts it
sometimes affect their academic performances….
2. ACADEMICS/INSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES:
infact,many people wonders how can a deaf who cant hear the lectures cope with his/ her academic studies in a school where there is neither special education nor interpreters… this is
the frequent question Iam asked by hearing counterparts when I first got admission in tertiary
institution. Funny enough, iam doing well and always moving forward right from the beginning of my academic sojourn. Alhamdulillahi.….. it’s a matter of hardwork, prayers and determination. However it's truly challenging that's why I thought I will hardly further my education in any Tertiary institution without sign language interpreter or note taker for me.
I consider this self taught/self learning as exclusion, discrimination and segregation. That's why I told News Agency of Nigeria in my 2022 interview with them that, "Varsity Education without Interpreter my most challenging experience" See link below at the end.
Howver, deaf students in any tertiary institutions normally face challenges with within the tertiary institution itself. the challenges could be as a
result of or lack of course materials and other written document which the deaf solely depend for their studies,another challenges is lack of interpreters.
Interpreter is a person who can turn/translate spoken languages into sign
language and finger spelling ,haven’t you ever saw one? When there is interpreters the deaf learn faster than when there is none…again lack of cooperation and information about tests, assignments, tutorials and other academics issues as well as discrimination from colleagues
is a major challenge discouraging deaf students in higher tertiary institutions….
3. GOVERNMENT:- The duty of government is to ensure it provide meaningful way of life to every citizens of its state, to support and encourage the vulnerable and less privileged members of the society in order to see they achieve their hidden potential and achieve their goals but unfortunately most level of government fails take
its responsibilities. When parents and society fail to support and encourage deaf education it is duty of government to support them but in most case the government at all level has shown little
or no concern toward deaf education. It is
worthy to note that in other countries deaf and PWDs education is either subsidized or free and compulsory but here in our society, Nigeria, it is not. And, no matter which kind of disability affect you, you must pay not even half but full amount equal to normal people excluding few college in Bauchi state but if you fact check me you will see 95 if not 98% of colleges and universities in Nigeria PWDs paid full amount. government is supposed to do something about this, deaf and
disabled are the most vulnerable who need
special consideration. Even the scholarship, not all of them are paid reasonable amount. Mostly without
any bonus despite their disability.
The most disheartening is, when they successfully graduated most of them are denied jobs by government official just because they can’t hear.
This is pathetic and discriminatory. give them chance in their area of specialization and see if they can’t. belief me a deaf workers is a good workers. they will surely contribute a lot in the rapid growth and development of their place of work if given
special consideration.
PROSPECTS/WAY FORWARD.
Due to time & space, I have to summarize them.
First & foremost, families should try
to understand deaf child and treat them equal without any form of discrimination, support them, encourage then and belief me they will perform very well in their academic excel. Secondly, the society has its responsibility; the society should
encourage deaf education through various
support programmes and mutual understanding without comparing them with the uneducated & deaf beggars. they are quite different. Thirdly the institutions should try all it can do to ensure course materials and written documents are
available for deaf students to cope. In addition, guidance and counseling by lecturers as well as hiring an interpreter for them when necessary is important. the lecturers and staff should be ready & willing to hear their complaints as most
are due to lack of course materials in addition they should be properly informed about lecturers, tests, assignments etc. and finally the government has a great role to play. If the govt can not make deaf education free and compulsory why not make it half free and compulsory? I mean why not making it 50% free but compulsory when it is completely free and
compulsory in many countries? The government should know that deaf/disabled people are special people who deserve special consideration, any society that neglect disabled education and welfare,the result is; Mendicancy,which speak ill of the society in the midst of foreigners…
In conclusion, I’m urging parents of the deaf, the society, the governments at all levels, non governmental organization and philanthropists to please encourage deaf education like the way they are mostly encouraging girl child education.
Mind you being a deaf is not a barrier to
education. the only barrier is discrimination, parental and societal negligence towards deaf and disabled education.
“it’s the individual who is not interested in his follow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others ,its from among such individuals that all human failures spring” –Alfred Adler.
© Comrade Yusuf Yahaya Abubakar Kumo.
@yusufkumo191@gmail.com
Links:https://theeagleonline.com.ng/varsity-education-without-interpreter-my-most-challenging-experience-deaf-graduate/
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