Back to Search
Start Over
Sign language policy implementation in special schools for the deaf in Zimbabwe.
- Source :
- Deafness & Education International; Jun2024, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p127-148, 22p
- Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- The aim of this study was to examine how sign language policies are being implemented in special schools for the Deaf in Zimbabwe. It employed in-depth interviews to solicit data from 29 participants who were four district school inspectors, four educational psychologists, four school heads and 17 grade one to three specialist teachers. Data were analysed using deductive thematic analysis at the semantic level. The study revealed inconsistencies in sign language policy implementation as consequences of ambiguity of policy goals and conflict of the means of achieving the policy goals. The study further revealed that government officers were not proficient in sign language and so could not monitor policy implementation. Several other factors influenced the implementation of sign language policies in the special schools. Policy implementers were not aware of the meaning of sign language policies and how the policies were supposed to be implemented. There were, therefore, misunderstandings regarding how policies were to be implemented. Schools used various forms of sign language as a way of implementing the policies. On the basis of these findings, it was recommended that policymakers ensure that they formulate sign language policies whose goals and means are not ambiguous to avoid conflict in the way the policies are implemented. It was also recommended that the Ministry of Education provides capacity development opportunities to sign language policy implementers starting from those at national, provincial, district and down to school levels where classroom teachers need to be taught how the sign language policies can be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- SCHOOL environment
CURRICULUM
COMMUNICATIVE competence
LANGUAGE & languages
HUMAN services programs
PSYCHOLOGISTS
PSYCHOLOGY of teachers
HEALTH policy
INTERVIEWING
GOAL (Psychology)
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
THEMATIC analysis
DEAFNESS
SPECIAL education schools
SCHOOL administration
EDUCATION of the deaf
STUDENT health
INTERPERSONAL relations
STAKEHOLDER analysis
SIGN language
PEOPLE with disabilities
LOCAL government
LANGUAGE acquisition
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14643154
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Deafness & Education International
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177038174
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14643154.2023.2294008