Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, held a special event to present Braille transcripts to the 2012 class of visually impaired National Senior Certificate candidates. The National Senior Certificate is an important achievement in the academic life of any individual mainly because it marks the end of basic education in South Africa.
The transcripts mark the beginning of a new era of making content of the NSC certificates accessible to partially sighted and blind learners. The event was held on Tuesday, 8 October at Filadelfia Secondary School in Soshanguve, Pretoria. From now onwards, visually impaired learners will no longer need to depend on other people to read the content of their own certificates.
One of the main highlights of the day was the presence of the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga who made the following remarks about the event: "Quality education and support for learners with visual impairment is our key priority. We have declared 2013 the Year of Inclusive Education. Umalusi's marvellous work is therefore very timely. The Council has really advanced the values and ethos of our democratic and inclusive society."
Former learners of Filadelfia and Prinshof secondary schools in Pretoria were invited to the occasion and about 15 of them came to receive their Braille transcripts. Among the recipients was Charles Claasen who obtained seven distinctions in his 2012 results. Charles was also requested to read out his Braille transcript to demonstrate the usefulness of the transcripts. Umalusi intends to make Braille transcripts available to both previous and future matriculants. Such transcripts will accompany future certificates for blind and visually impaired learners.
Enquiries:
Lucky Ditaunyane, Senior Manager: PR and Communication
Tel: 012 349 1510 ext 208
Cell: 083 227 6074
E-mail: lucky@umalusi.org.za
