Al Bireh- A graduation ceremony was held on the 28th of May 2014 for the sixth class of hearing-impaired high school students enrolled at the PRCS’ Total Communication School. The ceremony was attended by PRCS’ President Dr. Younis Al Khatib, PRCS’ Director General Dr. Khaled Joudeh, and the Director General for Guidance and Special Education at the Ministry of Education Dr. Reema Al Kilani, as well as several PRCS’ department directors, staff and volunteers, the families of graduates, and representatives from Civil Society Organizations.
Ms. Suheir Badarneh, Head of PRCS’ Rehabilitation and Ability Development Program, welcomed the invitees and wished success to all graduates sitting for the National High School General Examination (Tawjihi) in June, hoping to see them continue their higher education as did other previous graduates.
Dr. Al Khatib expressed his joy at the graduation of this sixth consecutive class from the Total Communication School, which he described as a real gateway to opportunity for hearing-impaired students. “Recommendations by the PRCS’ General Conference held in May 2014 focused on enhancing community-based awareness and building partnerships with local community institutions. Such efforts were fruitful and resulted in the donation of a piece of land by Ramallah Municipality on which the Total Communication School premises will be built”, he declared. Dr. Al Khatib also spoke about the new theatre inaugurated at the Fathi Arafat Conference Center at the Society’s headquarters, describing it as “a great monument built solely by Palestinians without external support”.
Dr. Al Kilani lauded PRCS for focusing on this key category of Palestinians. “PRCS deserves our full respect, appreciation and support. The fact that 11 hearing-impaired students are going to sit for the national high school exams, as well as the new sign-language course to be offered by Birzeit University next year, shows that Palestine is a leading country when it comes to caring for hearing-impaired persons”, she said.
Speaking on behalf of graduates, Salam Al Jamal said he was proud of the years he spent at this PRCS’ school. He wished his classmates all success at the service of their society and their national cause, just like their non-impaired peers.
The graduation ceremony featured a speech by one parent, dabkeh performances by the School’s troupe, as well as other performances. At the end of the ceremony, diplomas were handed to high school graduates, children graduating from the school’s kindergarten as well as to participants in the sign-language course. School alumni who graduated from Al Quds Open University were also honored.
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