The Ministry of Education in partnership with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) completed two week training on sign language for NUR staff from various units and departments. This training which started from 23rd April to 4th May, 2012 aimed at equipping services providers with communications skills to effectively communicate with hearing disability students.

Staffs from the Dean of Students, Academic Secretaries, NUR Library, Finance, LUCS, students’ leaders and the association of the handicapped students are among those who were trained. On behalf of the Ministry of Education represented by Mary KOBUSINGYE in charge of Special and Inclusive Education thanked NUR staff and trainers for their lively participation during the sign language training. “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I thank all of you present here today for accepting to take part in this training. It is a sign that you give value to the students with hearing disability, I guarantee you that MINEDUC will increase your knowledge on sign language through more trainings”, said KOBUSINGYE. She also suggested that lecturers should be trained on sign language.

Representing the university administration, Mr. Medard RUNYANGE the Dean of students expressed optimism that this training will equip those who were trained with sufficient communications skills to effectively communicate with students who have hearing disability. “This training is very important to NUR community, we have students with hearing disability who may lack quick and quality services due to difficulties in communicating with service providers, this training will ease service providers to offer better services to students with hearing disability”, Said Runyange.

While speaking to the media at the end of the training, the Dean of Students underscored that currently the university has five students with hearing disability in different faculties and expects the number to increase. He emphasized the necessitate to train staff that directly deal with these impaired students citing that the training received in sign language will ease communication with these students. Marie Claire Salomée UWUMUGISHA a nurse working with the university dispensary and one of the trainees uttered that before the training she wondered what to expect when communicating with these students using sign language. “Normally the responsibility of a nurse is to diagnose a patient’s disease by being able to communicate with the patients and I am optimistic that the skills obtained will be helpful in serving these students”, said UWUMUGISHA.

The National University of Rwanda currently is one of the higher learning institutions with five hearing disability students and sixteen visually impaired students. Participants that attended this training are those that deal with students’ welfare on a day-to-day basis. The NUR is committed and dedicated to promote equal access to education for students with disabilities.

Jules Rutayisire,NUR 1st Year in Management(in the Middle) and Arsene Ngabonziza(Left) who will do IT in KIST in 2013 together with Blandine Uwimana( KIST Management graduand in 2011) all hearing impaired.Both Ngabonziza and Uwimana were trainers during this Sign Language training

Mary Kobusingye offering a certificate to one of the trainees

Some trainees putting on display their certificates

Filed by: Jean Baptiste MICOMYIZA