BOAD’s primary task caters for the interests of deaf people in Botswana by ensuring that they are able to communicate properly in the sign language. Speaking at the event, BOAD director, Shirley Keoagile said the signing of the MoU with the college holds immense significance in promoting inclusivity, universality, inter-relatedness, disability mainstreaming and advocating for the rights of the deaf community. Keoagile said the deaf should not be left behind when it comes to education adding that the community has long been sidelined. “People have been crying about learning sign language. We need people to learn it. We have lessons that we are offering at the BOAD office that can give people opportunities to work in different organisations as professionals. We are not saying there should be favours, no, I am talking about professionals,” she said.
Keoagile also said Byte Size College would provide deaf teachers to be employed and teach, which is something unique for the country. Meanwhile, Deputy director-Curriculum Development and Evaluation at the Ministry of Basic Education, Dr Shadreck Majwabe told Mmegi that the agreement between BOAD and Byte Size College is a step in the right direction. He said the arrangement is about expansion of deaf inclusion in the mainstream education. “We are the custodians of policy but we encourage different stakeholders such as the private sector to be part of education. Policy is there that recognises inclusivity and we want to see the deaf community being part of policy formulation. People with disabilities are allowed to work in the entire education system,” he said. Majwabe said representation of people with disabilities remains a challenge, adding that it is something that they are currently working on as a department. Guest speaker at the event, Helen Andreasson, the head of resident coordinator's office in Botswana said the agreement between BOAD and Byte Size College is breakthrough on issues of access to information and services by the deaf community.
