Save the Children Promotes Sign Language Learning

Save the Children Promotes Sign Language Learning

Save the Children and Krousar Thmey will hold an event today to promote their Accelerating Sign Language project, which helps children with hearing impairment access quality education.

According to a statement by Save the Children, the project was founded by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Department and Trade. The project focuses on delivering Khmer sign language lessons to the children.

Neang Phalla, director of Krousar Thmey, said the NGO is currently helping 727 students who have vision and hearing impairments learn in five of its schools.

“Children with impairments can now learn like other children because of the help from governments and NGOs,” Ms Phalla said. “Do not keep children with impairments at home – they need education like other children for a better future.”

Elizabeth Pearce, country director for Save the Children, said project developers are testing open-source video modules to help children with hearing impairment learn sign language in communities and primary schools.

“The project aims to support children with profound hearing loss in accessing quality education, to create an enabling environment by providing support to their families, and by introducing Khmer sign language lessons to their teachers and fellow students,” she said.

According to the statement, 93 million children around the globe live with disabilities. It said in the Kingdom, 2.1 percent of people aged five and older live with disabilities, while 57 percent of primary school children with disabilities are out of school.

It said 44.3 percent of children with disabilities who had access to education completed primary education.

The statement said through the project, Save the Children has developed 21 open-source video modules and accompanying digital resources for children, peers, families, and teachers.

It said the modules are available online through Signs Discovery and will be uploaded to the Education Ministry’s digital learning platform.

The statement said the project has shown great results during its first two year period.

Khmer Times