RAMALLAH, July 27, 2009 (WAFA)- Asma'a Anqawi from the PRCS Total Communication School sat for and obtained the Palestinian High School Certificate 'Tawjihi' with a general average of 76.2% (Literary Stream), becoming the first deaf student ever to pass the exam and to obtain the Tawjihi certificate in Palestine.
Based on the right of deaf students to education, Asma'a sat for the Tawjihi exams hoping to succeed, start her university education and prove that her hearing-impairment will not stand in the way of her education. Ever since she joined PRCS in 1993, Asma'a persisted in her determination to succeed and sat for the exam with two other deaf students. Through her success, Asma'a proved to everyone that a hearing-impairment does not mean a mental handicap.
At a ceremony held to congratulate Asma'a, Dr. Younis Al Khatib, PRCS President, said that her success is not only a success for PRCS but for Palestinians in general in their efforts to integrate people with disabilities and to ensure they become active citizens. This achievement, he said, proves the soundness of PRCS' policy to care for disabled persons, to provide them with the best programs and to educate and rehabilitate them so that they overcome their disability and succeed. He added that PRCS shall continue to care for this category of the Palestinian society and shall reinforce its programs and activities aimed at rehabilitating them and facilitating their integration. He wished Asma'a all success in her university studies.
A very happy Asma'a took the floor to say that her success comes as a result of great efforts over several years with support from her parents and the PRCS'
In the same vein, Samira Badarneh, head of the PRCS'
Teacher Sawsan As'ad who was Asma'a's Arabic teacher since grade seven said that her success comes as a result of her efforts as well as efforts by teachers and PRCS staff in previous years. She added that Asma'a, throughout her studies at the
Asma'a's mother Aziza, who has four other deaf children, spoke about the huge efforts made by her daughter throughout her school years. She was certain her daughter would succeed, she said, and is very proud of this achievement. She thanked PRCS in general and the
It is to be noted that Asma'a sat for the Tawjihi exams with two other deaf students who were not as successful as she was.
PRCS' Total Communication Program and Center for the deaf comprises, in addition to the Total Communication School, a comprehensive program for the rehabilitation and integration of the deaf through community-based awareness raising programs, sign-language dissemination programs and rehabilitation programs targeting parents of deaf students to shape more positive attitudes towards them, in addition to training programs for teachers and for university students preparing diplomas related to this field. The total number of students at PRCS' centers for the deaf is 327 students from both sexes studying at four centers in Ramallah,