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Construction of the first “School for
Hearing-impaired (deaf-mute) Children with Hostels for Girls and Boys”
in Drukyel near Paro
The project agreement was signed by Harald Nestroy with the Bhutanese Education Ministry
in November 2002.
This special school will be combined with the Lower Secondary and the Higher Secondary School already existing in Drukyel: the objective is to integrate the hearing-impaired children from the beginning with the non-handicapped children for the obvious benefits of both. In the context of our project, the “Special Unit for Hearing-impaired Children” in Drukgyel has developed ,for the first time in Bhutan, a sign language for the hearing-impaired. The new sign language has already been taught to teachers who during the time of construction of the “Pro Bhutan” buildings, have started teaching the first group of 23 hearing-impaired children in improvised class rooms.
After extensive research and planning, the construction of the Drukyel complex has started in April 2006. The school buildings were inaugurated by Her Majesty Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck and Harald Nestroy on November 24, 2007.
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The 2 school buildings |
HM Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck and H. Nestroy after unveiling the inauguration plaque |
HM Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck and H.Nestroy during the
ceremony
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HM Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck with hearing-impaired children in class |
HM Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck with a girl learning how
to write |
The corresponding hostels for girls and boys have been completed in the mean time.
Now the hearing-impaired children are so happy about their new “Pro Bhutan” hostels and school which gives them the chance to look forward to much brighter a future then ever before.
Now, mid 2008, there are already 28 hearing-impaired children enjoying our school and hostels. It is planned that they would be integrated into the lessons of the non-impaired children in the primary and the secondary schools after a period of transition in the school for the hearing-impaired which is to be kept as short as possible.
This project is mainly financed by the German NGO “Star hours – We help children”, the humanitarian association of the Bavarian Television, Munich.
As the construction costs in Bhutan have risen exorbitantly since the signing of the agreement, “Pro Bhutan” (which is financing the other part) and the hearing-impaired children in Bhutan would be very grateful for Your donation still needed to fill the remaining financial gap.
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