Assessing the challenges of teaching and learning of hearing impaired students enrolled in regular primary and secondary schools

The academic performance of students in regular secondary schools is worse compared to academic performance of pupils in primary schools special for the deaf. Iringa school for the deaf and Iringa girls’ secondary school were selected to be the centre of this study. The general objective of the study was to assess the challenges in the teaching and learning process of hearing impaired students enrolled in regular primary and secondary schools. Specifically the study aimed at examining the challenges of teaching and learning to students with hearing impaired and examining the factors contributing to poor academic performance of hearing impaired students enrolled in regular secondary schools. This study used a case study design by the use of interviews and observation in order to evaluate the challenges of teaching and learning of hearing impaired students enrolled in regular primary and secondary schools. Purposive and simple random sampling procedures were used to select participants of the study who were students with hearing impairment according to their level/class they were studying, teachers of special education, heads of school and the District Education Officer for special education. Hence the study involved data collection that utilized observation, interviews to the respondents and both quantitative and qualitative research approach Recommendation based on the study findings, the researcher/study has made the following recommendations: - There should be improvement in the inclusion system of education like the use of competent teachers in sign language, making available related teaching and learning facilities. Further research should also be carried out of related areas