Sign Language Studies

NEPAL: A PARADISE FOR THE DEAF? Ragav Bir Joshi Background Nepal is about the size of Tennessee and is located between Tibet and India; its population is 18 million. In the north the Himalayas contain eight of the ten highest mountains in the world. The middle region of Nepal is called The Middle Hills and the Valleys. The south region is called The Terai and is mainly agricultural. Nepal was a closed country until 1951, after that it was opened to the world. In 1963 King Mahendra, father of the present king, started the Panchayat partyless democracy, which is still the political system of the nation. In religion Nepal is 90% Hindu, 8%Buddhist, and 2% Islamic. Hinduism recognizes about three hundred million deities; while Buddhism emphasizes the "Middle Way," which rejects excess and fanaticism. Although other religions can be practiced, proselytism is forbidden by law. Their religious beliefs deeply influence all the aspects of life, culture, and history of the Nepalese people. The people of Nepal are mostly Tibeto-Burmans from the north and Indo-Aryans from the south, and the caste system of Nepalese culture classifies the population as follows: 1. Brahmins 'head caste:' priests 2. Chhetris 'arm caste:' rulers and warriors 3. Vaisyas 'leg caste:' artisans and traders 4. 8udras 'feet caste:' serfs There are sub- astes as well as many ethnic tribes in the country. Education In Nepal the general education system recognizes ten levels in three groupings: primary (Classes 1-3), lower secondary (6-7), higher secondary (8-10). The first is compulsory, and the textbooks for these years are provided by the government. Some post-secondary education is available, and as of 1988, the national literacy rate was 30%. Education for those who are deaf was begun in Nepal only in 1966. @ 1991 by Linstok Press, Inc. See note inside front cover ISSN 0302-1475 161 Now there are four government schools and about three hundred deaf students. The School for the Deaf, Bal Mindir, Naxal, Kathmanu was founded in 1966 and currently has 160 students. Class levels are kindergarten (1-4), Primary (4-7), and Vocational (8-10). The last teaches tailoring, knitting, carpentry, and electricity. "Bridge class" isa remedial class. The Deaf Children School, Sidhartha Nagar, Bhairahawa was founded in 1974 and has 60 students: KG 1-2, Primary 1-5, and Vocational (only tailoring and knitting.) Sidha Deaf Children School, Birenda Nagar, Surkhet was founded in1985 and has about 30 students in KG 1-2, and Class 1-3. The vocational classes teach tailoring, knitting, necklace making, and purse making. Deaf Children School, Rajbiraj, Saptari was founded in 1985 and also has about 30 students with similar class divisions, and tailoring and knitting taught invocational classes. It is estimated that there are half a million deaf people in Nepal, or 3%of the whole population of Nepal. Many deaf children do not go to school because of poverty, the distance to a school, or a ignorance of educational opportunities. There are, however, a number of deaf students in schools for the mentally retarded or other disabled groups. Currently there is only one deaf teacher, who usually functions as a substitute teacher and/or art teacher in the school for the deaf in Kathmandu. There are no deaf teachers or staff members at other government schools for deaf children. In Pokhara, west of Kathmandu, there are two non-government schools. One is a group of about 20 students being taught by two deaf teachers and sponsored by a local youth support organization. The other is a private school operated by a Japanese priest who receives financial support from the Society of Jesus; it has about 15 students. The Welfare Society for the Hearing Impaired, responsible for the four government schools, was founded in 1984 under the direction of the Health Services Coordination Committee (HSCC). There has been no deaf participation in and no deaf input to these bodies by the deaf community. Oralism was prevalent between 1966 and 1988. The Total Communication approach was recently accepted but it will become official only after the first Nepali Sign Language Dictionary is officially recognized by the HSCC. SLS 71 Joshi The Deaf inNepal There...