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Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic signed a Note of Understanding (NoU) with the Sabah Society for the Deaf here last Friday to mark their official collaboration in studies and practical skills related to higher learning for the deaf.

Its director Roslee Yahya said the deal would offer various collaborations in terms of provision of education and skills to deaf students as well as provision of expertise in communicating with the deaf.

“Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic offers a short course in Hotel and Catering especially to special (deaf) students, and to date there are 31 students undertaking the particular course of study.

“We have always been encouraged to make collaborations with public and private agencies, and this NoU with Sabah Society for the Deaf will offer many benefits especially in knowledge transfer between the two parties,” he said after the signing ceremony.

The Sabah Society for the Deaf, which was established in 1975, has successfully set up five education centres in Sabah, namely in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Keningau, Kudat and Lahad Datu, providing mainly pre-school education to deaf children.

Its president Francis Yong said the Education Department had provided two schools for the deaf in Sabah, mainly the Sekolah Pendidikan Khas, Tuaran (primary level) and SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Penampang (secondary).

Upon completion of their secondary education, the students have a choice of going to Keningau Technical School or Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic. The signing ceremony was held in conjunction with the Connecting With the Deaf Students programme organised by Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic through its Department of General Studies.

The programme aims at instilling awareness among students and employees with the challenges that special students have to face in their daily lives. 

Various activities were held in the one-day programme including the Deaf Challenge activity which involves communication in sign languages between students and employees of KK Polytechnic. Other activities included a ‘flashmob’ using sign language and booths from various agencies including schools for the deaf around Kota Kinabalu.

Also present were principal of Sabah Society for the Deaf Education Centre, Regina Wong, KK Polytechnic assistant director (academics) Zaidi bin Zakaria and representatives from SK