Support services for students who are deaf on distance education programme at Bagabaga college of education study centre, Tamale

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out support services given to students who are deaf on the distance education programme at Bagabaga College of Education Study Centre in Tamale. The study was guided by the following research questions: What support services are available to students who are deaf during tutorials, assessment support to students who are deaf, hearing colleagues support to students who are deaf academically and what support services are provided for students who are deaf at the college library. The research approach for the study was qualitative and research design for the study was a case study. The sample size for the study was eight students who are deaf at Bagabaga Study Centre, Tamale. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample for the study. The specific purposive sampling technique used to select the sample was critical case sampling. A semi-structured interview guide was the instrument used to collect data for the study. The findings revealed that there were support services given to students who are deaf. These include; interpreters, note-takers, appropriate placement, good lighting systems, support from some lecturers and support from some hearing students to students who are deaf academically after tutorials and library support to students who are deaf. Also findings revealed some challenges students who deaf encounter such as inadequate interpreters and note-takers, lecturers do not take the presence of students who deaf into account during tutorials and therefore speak at a faster rate making it difficult for interpreters to cope with interpreting. Again there were some sound-based courses students who are deaf find difficult to do. These are speech-based courses such as Phonology and Phonetics, English Language, Language and Literacy, and Music and Dance. The study recommended that the College for Distance and e learning should ensure there are adequate interpreters and note-takers at the centre to support students who are deaf.