REPORT ON QUALITY EDUCATION AND SUPPORT FOR LEARNERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
PRESENTED AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN BRAILLE AUTHORITY BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION
16 May 2013
1. INTRODUCTION
Although progress made in 2013 in the programme to radically improve quality education and support
to learners with visual impairment, has been slower than anticipated, significant gains have been made
by the DBE in partnership with the representative organisations of persons with visual impairment.
The Department of Basic Education is aiming at achieving systemic improvement of service delivery to
the 1307 blind and 2495 partially sighted learners enrolled in special schools as well as the 433 blind
and 19658 partially sighted learners enrolled in mainstream schools.
There are four areas in which the DBE is running programmes to improve quality education and support
to learners with visual impairment, namely:
(i) Provision of Learning and Teaching Support Materials in accessible format
(ii) Improvement of the standard of Braille knowledge amongst teachers and learners
(iii) Improvement of the quality of curriculum delivery and support in special schools for visual
impairment
(iv) Ensuring that all examinations and assessment for learners with visual impairment are fair and
allow them to achieve to their best ability.
2.
2.1
PROGRESS IN SUPPLYING LTSM IN ACCESSIBLE FORMAT
Progress on Adaptation, Printing and Distribution of Workbooks

Workbooks for Gr R have been developed accompanied by Teacher Manuals and a Tactile Toolkit.
The books have been delivered to schools in all official languages and have been warmly received.

Vol. 1 of Gr 1 – 6 Mathematics Workbooks in Braille, together with toolkits, have been delivered in
all languages to all 22 schools.

The Gr 1 – 9 Books for Language and Mathematics have been adapted and handed over to Pioneer
printers. Gr 1 to 3 have all been translated into all languages and Gr 4 – 9 in Afrikaans. Translations
into other languages are underway and will soon be completed.

Gr 1 - 7 Workbooks for English FAL have been adapted.

Gr 1 – 3 Life Skills have been adapted and handed over for translation.
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2.2
Progress with distribution of Prescribed Works for Grades 10 – 12
All prescribed books for Gr 10 – 12 in all languages have now been delivered to schools. The production
was funded by the DBE. These books will still be in use in 2013 and 2014. Provinces have been
requested to monitor the utilisation of the books.
2.3
Progress with Selection and Ordering of CAPS Textbooks for Grades 1 – 12
After having made a selection of one textbook per grade per subject for Foundation Phase, Intermediate
Phase, Grades 10 and 11 and a budget made available by the Minister, a tender was published.
However, by the closing of the tender, no bids were received from the prospective service providers
who attended the compulsory briefing and the tender process could therefore not be taken forward.
It must be noted that prior to the closing date, some of the bidders who had attended the briefing
session engaged the DBE after the briefing to raise an issue regarding timeframes for the closing date for
the submission of proposals as well as timeframes for the delivery of master copies. The DBE obliged
and extended the closing date and revised the delivery timeframes. Even after these attempts, no bids
were received.
It is for this reason that the DBE has been exploring other methods to support learners with visual
impairment. These methods include advising provinces on deployment of ICT assistive devices and other
forms of support whilst the sector is looking for solutions in the provision of print material.
In December 2013 the DBE arranged a one day meeting involving special schools to select textbooks for
Senior Phase and Grade 12. The DBE has learnt from the Western Cape Department of Education that
Pioneer School for the Blind had already assigned Pioneer Printers to develop Braille and Large Print for
the Grades 1-12 from the approved selection. Master copies as well as Braille textbooks for some
subjects are therefore ready while others are still being developed. Provinces have been advised to
ensure that schools order the textbooks from Pioneer Printers as they become available.
The DBE is monitoring the process.
2.4
Enhancement of capacity in the country to produce Braille
2.4.1
Response to Audit conducted by Department of Arts and Culture
In response to the recommendations relating to education of the Report on Braille Production in South
Africa which was commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture, the Minister of Basic Education
has decided to appoint a technical task team with representation from the sector to conduct a cost
feasibility study around establishing a national Braille production facility. This study will come with
recommendations before the end of 2014 and will be done in consultation with the Departments of Arts
and Culture, Women, Children and People with Disabilities and the Government Printing Works. All
Braille stakeholders in the country will be consulted in the process.
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2.4.2
Audit of Braille Production Capacity of Schools
In October the DBE conducted a more comprehensive audit on the capacity of schools to produce
Braille. The status report can be made available on request. It was found that all schools have braille
printing equipment but that the majority do not have systems in place for maintenance and sustained
production of chapters from textbooks, tests and exam papers. Provinces have been requested by the
Director-General to equip every school with a minimum basic package of Braille production equipment,
a budget for Braille production and a trained technician for Braille production as well as a maintenance
plan.
A progress report must be submitted to the DBE by the end of June 2014 after which further
interventions will be made by the DBE.
2.4.3
Provision of electronic reading devices and assistive technology
The DBE is negotiating with several partners to investigate the procurement and delivery of electronic
devices such as tablets loaded with textbooks, electronic e readers and braille displays. This initiative is
seen as enhancing and not as replacing braille in schools.
To this effect, provinces were requested to provide plans for the provision of ITC and LTSM to schools
for visually impaired learners and ongoing negotiations with the Publishers Association and Publishing
Houses are being conducted to ensure that Textbooks are made available in Epub3 format.
3.
3.1
PROGRESS ON TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR TEACHERS
Training in Braille Grade 1
As was reported at the previous SABA AGM, a national team for the co-ordination of Braille training was
established in March 2013.
The Co-ordinator of the team, Mr Deena Moodley and Ms Tracy Smith of Blind SA developed a
Facilitators Guide and a Participants Guide with exercises.
A training session was held on 5 December 2013 involving lead teachers from most of the special
schools for visual impairment as well as two provincial officials to orientate them for the training which
is to take place at schools in 2014. The training was attended by 42 delegates from all schools with the
exception of Efata, Khanyisa, Ethembeni, Open Air, Arthur Blaxall, Letaba, Siloe, Athlone and Pioneer.
Currently the DBE is in the process of appointing the national training team consisting of Mr D Moodley,
Ms T Smith, Mr Christo de Klerk (President of the SA Braille Authority), Mr Albert Peters ( consultant),
Ms Pasha Alden (SA Library for the Blind), Ms S Bam (Blind SA Education Committee), Mr Willie Malatsi
(Blind SA), Ms Katie du Plooy (Blind SA), Mr Simon Netshituni (SABA), Ms R Popplestone (UCT), Ms A Van
Niekerk (Blind SA), Mr D Van Niekerk (Blind SA), Ms S Van Wyk (Blind SA) and Mrs Richards (retired
teacher from Athlone).
The teachers who will serve on the national training team will be: M Mashudu (Silindokuhle), Mr Edwin
Rambau (Setotolwane School), EO Gama (Bartimea School), S Hattingh (Prinshof School), M Tshiove
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(Tshilidzini School), T Lesufi (Sibonile), JR Maharaj (Arthur Blaxall), D Makgolane (Efata), M Maluleke
(Rivoni), F Mkhosa (Letaba), T Mncwabe (Zamokuhle), C Mohale (Thiboloha), M Molepo (Siloe), A
Muofhe (Retlameleng), L Ndzukuma (Khanyisa), NK Ntobeng (Bosele), E Smith (Open Air).
Schools have also submitted the numbers of teachers to be trained in Braille Gr 1 and Braille Gr 2.
According to the statistics submitted there are 17 blind teachers who require training in Gr 1 Braille, 28
blind teachers who require Gr 2 Braille training, 227 sighted teachers who require Gr 1 Braille training
and 257 sighted teachers who require Gr 2 Braille training. No response was received from Athlone and
Siloe Schools and Sibonile did not indicate how many teachers required Gr 2 Braille training. All teachers
in Prinshof have already been trained in Gr 2 Braille. Some other schools such as Christiana have also
proceeded with their training by contracting Tracy Smith. Prinshof and Pioneer have also requested
training in Afrikaans Braille through the Ses Punte guide.
Once the appointments of trainers has been concluded, the three day training at schools will proceed
and need to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.
3.2
Training in Braille Grade 2
Once the Gr 1 training has been completed, the principals, together with school-based Braille champion
teachers, will be expected to run the programme on Grade 2 Braille. This has to happen on a weekly
basis and will be monitored by the National coordinating team in partnership with the DBE and the
Provincial Braille co-ordinators. The course is accredited and will lead up to the National Braille Exams in
the first half of 2015 which will be jointly conducted by the DBE and SABA.
Once all teachers have been trained in English Braille, training will continue in the other national Braille
codes in Afrikaans and African languages.
As has been previously indicated, negotiations are underway with the Education Labour Relations
Directorate to regulate that no-one is allowed to be appointed at a school for visual impairment without
the requisite knowledge of Braille.
3.3
Training in Quality Education and Support
As has been indicated in the previous reports, a comprehensive training manual has been developed for
Quality Education and Support in Education of Learners with Visual Impairment. A training team with
school principals and lead teachers will be appointed to conduct the training at school in the second half
of 2014. The topics of the training cover all the modules that had been prioritise in the HRD Framework
that was developed jointly with the sector in 2012.
On 4 December 2014 The DBE appointed Mrs H Viljoen to conduct a one day training session at the DBE
to lead teachers from 13 schools on Adaptation of Curriculum and Assessment. The excellent training
manual is available on the website of the DBE and can be used by all schools and stakeholders. It also
assists with the introduction the Braille Workbooks.
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The University of Pretoria has informed the DBE that they will be offering a short course in visual
impairment in 2014. Schools can apply for such training from Prof. Ronel Ferreira.
4.
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNERS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
The Chief Directorate: National Examinations has conducted the following processes to improve that
quality of examinations for leaners with Visual Impairment:
A two day training session was held with the Chief Examiners involving lead subject teachers from
schools for the blind. The training involved best practice in adaptation of papers. It was found that in the
2013 National Senior Certificate Examination the quality of the Braille Papers had been much improved.
Teachers from schools for Visual Impairment were involved in marking centres where Braille papers
were being marked. Memoranda for the adapted papers were available.
A meeting was arranged by the Chief Directorate: National Examinations to consult with SABA
stakeholders in response to complaints received through the Braille list. It was found that most
complaints were related to the supplementary exams and were due to the fact that schools did not
submit correct information regarding format needs to provincial examinations directorates.
It was agreed that the Chief Directorate: National Examinations would stay in contact with the
Management of SABA who would channel complaints to the DBE rather than venting generalised
complaints on the Braille list.
Finally, the Policy on the Conduct of the National Senior Certificate with the Annexure on
Accommodations and Adaptations of Assessment for Learners who Experience Barriers to Learning is
being gazetted as national policy on 16 May 2014. This will ensure that all blind learners who have
applied for accommodations will receive additional time and papers in accessible format. Provinces will
conduct training on the policy in 2014.
5.
Other interventions
The Directorate Labour Relations of the DBE has started a process to support teachers with visual
impairment in terms of their rights for reasonable accommodation.
The Committee for Visually Impaired teachers has submitted a list of teachers who had to resign when
they became blind. A follow u is being made to determine whether due process has been followed in
terms of the Labour Relations and the Employment of Educators Act.
It is critical that teachers know their right in terms of existing legislation.
The DBE is committed in terms of the CRPD to ensure that more persons with visual impairment become
teachers. A recruitment campaign is underway to ensure that matrics from schools for the blind apply
for Fundza Lushaka Bursaries.
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