Challenges and Opportunities
Issues identified by the head teacher and the board:
- The cost of running the school, as inflation is rampant e.g. one load of wood (for cooking) last year was 340, 000BIF in 2011 but this year is 360,000BIF. EDS needs to raise more funds through its own income generating efforts as well as through fundraising.
- EDS may have to raise the fees but this could be detrimental as parents will not be able to pay more.
- EDS wants to set up a similar primary school in Bururi in the south of the country
- Ephphatha children have no chance to progress to secondary education. First, because they cannot sit for national examinations to qualify for admission to secondary schools because their school is not recognised by the government; secondly there are no secondary schools for Deaf pupils. This organisation wants to build a secondary school, train and employ teachers for which capital and human resources are needed.
- Deaf children who know they have the potential and are determined to go to secondary school need support through bridging classes to create the conditions and equip pupils so that they can cope with the challenges of learning in the hearing environment and learn from teachers who cannot sign.
- There is a need to provide employment opportunities for pupils who have finished at the school and who have done training in tailoring and carpentry. Ephphatha wants to build workshops to provide employment opportunities, generate income and provide training.