The question relates to the curriculum for learners with special needs. The answer is that an inclusive education reference group was indeed established in 2010 to develop an Inclusive Education Policy Statement on the curriculum and assessment for incorporation into the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements. A task team was also established for the adaptation of workbooks for Grades 1 to 6 into Braille and SA Sign Language, as well as for the alternative and augmentative communication. All workbooks for the numeracy and literacy grades have been adapted for Braille.
The second question relates to training for managers and educators. The reply is that 200 provincial, district and school management teams and officials from 66 schools for visual and hearing impairment were trained in March 2011 in specialised skills in these areas, including how to manage the curriculum. The training programme is being adapted to ensure that there is training of 700 more teachers for the visually impaired and 1 000 teachers for the deaf, which starts in 2011 on a progressive basis.