The VaSambyu Traditional Authority representative, Bertha Kwandu, urged parents not to keep deaf children at home but to enroll them in educational institutions.
Kwandu was speaking on behalf of the VaSambyu Traditional Leader, Sofia Mundjembwe, during a Deaf Tournament held in Kayengona Village in the Kavango East Region.
“We would like you to free the deaf learners so that they can join other learners in formal schools, because the current education system is inclusive. There are many schools with teachers trained to interpret sign language, so that these learners with special needs are taken care of. For example, these deaf children will be taught mathematics and how to write. In the past, these opportunities were not common. But in the current free education system, these children are more than welcome to be enrolled in schools and not kept at home,” Kwandu said.
The Namibian Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) Vice President, Peter Uushona, applauded the ten deaf learners who were selected to represent Namibia at the upcoming 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. The remarks were delivered on his behalf by Linea Mundjanima from the National Institute of Special Education (NISE).
“I am proud to share that we have nominated two sports codes to represent Namibia at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo,” Mundjanima said.
Furthermore, the Principal of Maria Mwengere Secondary School, Gervatius Burtha,who hosted the various school teams welcomed the participants during this significant event.
“Today marks a significant moment for our school and the entire Kavango East Region, as we host this special sports event that not only celebrates athletic excellence but also highlights the spirit of inclusion and unity in our communities,” Burtha said.
“I am able to communicate and interpret for my learners and the learners who are participating from different schools. I would like to encourage people to come to more of these types of events for awareness and to be involved in the deaf community,” said Aina Absalom, a Sign Language Teacher at Maria Mwengere Secondary School.
A total of seven schools took part in the tournament, with the Eluwa Resource School Hearing Impaired Unit winning first prize in both netball and football.
Andreas Kandjimi Primary School from the Kavango East Region took second prize, and Usko Nghamwa Special School settled for third place.