Factors Affecting Academic Performance of Learners with Hearing Impairments in Special Schools, A Case Study of Wakiso Secondary School for The Deaf

The study investigated challenges that face learners with hearing impairment in Wakiso secondary school for the deaf, Wakiso District Uganda. the researcher is a trained teacher in special needs education and also one who deals with hearing impaired learners decided to find out some of the challenges that these learners faces. That is to say whether these learners are comfortable when learning together with the “normal” children at regular classes. Whether they have enough learning materials, whether the present curriculum suits them, whether there are enough trained personnel and also whether the regular teachers are comfortable when dealing with these learners. The researcher used questionnaire method in order to conduct the researcher constructed questions and visits to the sample whereby she gave out the questionnaires to the respondents; she guided the respondent on what to do. The questionnaires consist of “Yes or No” answers and three respondent were supposed to tick what he or she thinks its correct depending with his or her knowledge. The researchers sample size consists of students and teachers in Wakiso secondary school for the deaf. The researcher used techniques and methods to carry out research. After collecting and analyzing the data, the researcher came up with the following findings. There are no enough trained personnel to cater for these learners, no enough learning materials and the teacher’s paper, parent and the society at large have negative attitude towards the hearing impaired learners. All in all the ministry of education science and technology must create awareness to the regular teachers, peer and the community at large so that they can develop positive attitude towards the hearing impaired children. Also more teachers need to be trained in special needs education to be able to handle these learners efficiently. The government must also go on an extra mile and provide enough learning and teaching materials so that these learners can be helped fully.