QURGHON TEPPA, August 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The branch of the non-governmental organization, Mechta (Dream), in the Khatlon province is concerned over the lack of a special school for hearing and speaking impaired children in the area.

Shodi Davlatov, the head of Mechta’ branch in Khatlon, said in an interview with Asia-Plus that 1,800 deaf-and-dump and hearing and speaking impaired people have been registered in the province to this date; 300 of them are underage children.

“A special school for deaf-and-dump children functioned in Qurghon Teppa from 1999 to 2007,” said Davlatov, “However, it was closed due to lack of finances.  Since that time, we have repeatedly applied to local authorities and the ministry of education on this subject, but the issue has remained unsolved so far.”

“We have proposed to open the special classes at one of kindergartens in Qurghon Teppa but we do not have funds to repair these classes,” said Davlatov.  “However, despite the existing problems we are continuing to teach hearing and speaking impaired children.  For example, in Shahritus and Vakhsh districts, teachers are giving lessons to deaf-and-dump children in their own houses.”