Imran Bodalaji has become the second deaf student to graduate from Stellenbosch University with a BEd degree.
Bodalaji, who had dreamed of becoming a teacher since Grade 9, made his dream a reality ten years after finishing high school.
His parents discovered he was deaf at six months old, and when he was old enough to go to school, he began at a mainstream school.
In Grade 3, Bodalaji moved to De La Bat School, an institution for deaf learners.
“The transition from a mainstream hearing school to a deaf school helped me greatly as I felt included and understood,” said Bodajali.
“I could also connect with teachers and fellow learners as Sign Language helped to understand information correctly. This resulted in better academic and holistic performance.”
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Bodajali’s late grandmother, Ayesha Bibi Dawood, along with his teachers at school, gave him “unlimited love, support and motivation”, inspiring him to pursue a career in teaching.
Bodalaji matriculated in 2012, going on to complete a course in early childhood development (ECD) level 4, making it to level 5 two years later.
“I then found out that I needed an appropriate education qualification to become a qualified educator, as level 5 only equipped me to be a crèche educator. I applied to various universities to complete a BEd degree but was unsuccessful as I did not meet the criteria,” he explained.
In consistent efforts, Bodalaji rewrote two subjects to meet the criteria and completed a short course in South African Sign language (SASL) literature at Stellenbosch University.
In 2017, he enrolled at the university, explaining: “The Disability Unit and the Language Centre provided individualised support by giving me access to two SASL interpreters who attended every lecture and meeting with me.”
Bodlaji explains how the interpreters would stand in front of the classes, interpreting the lecture, explaining the work and ensuring access to the learning materials.
“I feel the university provided more than enough effective long-term assistance, which was individualised to support the holistic well-being of a deaf student.”
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Struggling with post-pandemic burnout, Bodalaji says that his mentor Dr Claudia Saunderson helped him balance academics with personal life, supporting him in successfully completing his degree.
Bodalaji wants to continue on into education, specifically teaching learners using South African Sign Language.
“My dream is for deaf learners to learn South African Sign Language so that they do not have to assimilate to fit in to receive an education in South Africa.”
“Deaf learners should be given endless opportunities to grow – in schooling and post-schooling to achieve anything they set their minds to,” he continues.
“And we, as qualified Deaf SASL teachers, need to work together to promote ownership of SA Sign Language in our Deaf community and come up with innovative plans to empower, strengthen and support one another.”
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Picture: IOL