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Briefing on Education on Sign Language Mrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive Officer Friday, 20 June 2008 Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled People Persons, Room V227 Old Assembly Parliament, Cape Town. PART A. INTRODUCTION.
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Briefing on Education on Sign Language Mrs. Ntombenhle Nkosi; Chief Executive OfficerFriday, 20 June 2008Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled People Persons, Room V227 Old AssemblyParliament, Cape Town
PART A INTRODUCTION
Intro… Legislative Mandate • PanSALB derives its legislative mandate from the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the PanSALB Act 59 of 1995 as amended in 1999 and the PanSALB Regulations. The powers and functions of the Board are to: • (a) Make recommendations with regard to any proposed or existing legislation, practice and policy dealing directly or indirectly with language matters at any level of government, and with regard to any proposed amendments to or the repeal or replacement of such legislation, practice and policy;
Intro… The powers and functions of the Board are to: • (b) Make recommendations to organs of state at all levels of government where it considers such action advisable for the adoption of measures aimed at the promotion of multilingualism within the framework of the Constitution;
Intro… The powers and functions (cont.) • (c) Actively promote an awareness of multilingualism as a national resource; • (d) Actively promote the development of the previously marginalised languages; • (e) Initiate studies and research aimed at promoting and creating conditions for the development and use of • (i) all the official languages of the Republic; • (ii) Khoe and San languages; and, • (iii) South African Sign Language. • (f) Promote and ensure respect for all other languages commonly used by communities in South Africa;
Intro… The powers and functions (cont.) • (g) Advise on the co-ordination of language planning in South Africa; • (h) Facilitate co-operation with language planning agencies outside South Africa; • (i) Establish Provincial Language Committees and National Bodies to advise it on any language matter affecting a province or a specific language; and • (j) Establish National Lexicography Units to operate as companies limited by guarantee under section 21 of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973); and allocate funds to the units for the fulfilment of their functions.
Intro… The powers and functions (cont.) • In terms of Section 4 of the PanSALB Act, the Board is an independent organ of state, subject only to the Constitution and its founding legislation and must perform its duties without fear, favour or prejudice. All organs of state are enjoined to cooperate with the Board and may not interfere with the function of the Board in its execution of its mandate.
Intro… Vision • To achieve the equal status and use of all official languages of South Africa Mission • To provide for the recognition, the promotion and the development of all South African languages, with particular attention being given to those languages that were previously marginalized Values • Respect for all languages in South Africa • Equal treatment of all languages in South Africa • Non discrimination on the basis of language
Intro..Purpose • Create conditions for; • Multilingualism by developing and promoting equal use and status of all official languages • National unity and respect for the Bill of Rights as it pertains to respect and cultural tolerance of all languages and restoration of dignity of formally marginalised languages
Intro…Purpose • See to the Implementation of; • Language policies at all levels of government • Language development plans, projects and initiatives • Appropriate research in support of language development • All measures meant to protect and support Constitutional democracy with respect to language
Intro…Purpose • Be agents of change by; • Promoting public dialogue to change mindsets and attitudes to language • Promoting the value of indigenous languages • Monitoring the application of language legislation • Advising government on linguistic matters
PART B SERVICE DELIVERY
Background • South African Sign Language (SASL) is recognized and used as a first language by approximately 500 000 Deaf South Africans. • Since 1996, SASL has been officially recognized as the language of learning and teaching for the majority of Deaf learners in South Africa.
Background • Government policies also acknowledge SASL as the means through which Deaf people become economically and intellectually empowered. • This in turn has increased the awareness of the need for accessible social and legal services, equal education opportunities and therefore, SASL interpreter services.
Background • Because of a lack of awareness in the South African society, Deaf people experience language barriers in public sectors. • This means that there is a great need for professionals in different fields to learn SASL in order to provide efficient access to service. Also, this will help Deaf people to contribute equally to the South African economy. • PanSALB has since established a National Language Body (NLB) for Sign Language and appointed a SASL practitioner to service the NLB.
Key Initiatives for 2008/09 • PanSALB plans to undertake the following projects amongst others during 2008/09: • Reviewing the dictionary for the Deaf. • Establishing a National Lexicography Unit (NLU) for SASL that will be responsible for compiling a document on spelling and orthography of SASL. • Establish a Language in Education technical committee within the SASL NLB to look into the implementation of the language in education policy as far as SASL is concerned. • Through the SA High Commissioner in Malawi Mrs. Tsheole will create linkages between Deaf schools in SA and Malawi. • The High Commissioner is leading this process.
