Deaf pupils battle for education

While main stream schools are fighting for basic resources as children are returning to school next week, children with disabilities and special needs, face an even greater battle. 

The Department of Basic Education says the return of pupils to special needs schools will be determined at a later date because of their specific vulnerabilities.

Deaf pupils have been out of the classroom for two months, and confined to homes where their families may not know sign language.

Melanie Rice spoke to Ingrid Parkin, South Africa's only deaf school principal at a school for the Deaf, and Thelma Kotze from SASLINC who will be providing the interpreting.