Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Lindsay Whittle has backed a campaign in support of the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) Cymru campaign to make new school, nursery and college buildings accessible to children with a hearing loss.
The charity is highlighting that acoustic standards for school buildings have often been ignored, leaving children across Wales struggling to learn in noisy and echoing classrooms.
Lindsay Whittle, who represents South Wales East, said: “I was pleased to support the work of NDCS Cymru to make sure that all new school, nursery and college buildings in Wales meet a minimum acoustic standard.
“I was alarmed when I learnt about the difficulties that school children with a hearing loss face when trying to follow their teacher in a classroom with poor acoustics. I am calling on AMs to back the campaign, which will make a real difference to deaf children and given them the best chance of achieving their full potential at school.”
New research from NDCS Cymru showed that less than a third of schools built in Wales between 2003 and 2010 received any input from an acoustic expert. It also shows that just 11 per cent of schools built during this time were tested to check that they met acoustic standards.
Last year, following calls from NDCS Cymru, the Welsh Government agreed to make sure that schools funded through its 21st Century Schools Programme would meet acoustic standards.
NDCS Cymru now wants the Welsh Government to go one step further and use its new powers to strengthen regulations on school acoustics.
Jayne Dulson, NDCS Cymru Director, said: “It is fantastic that Lindsay Whittle is supporting our campaign on this vital issue.
“Good acoustics in schools are important for all children, but particularly so for deaf children. Although many deaf children use devices such as hearing aids and cochlear implants to access sound, these become almost useless in noisy classrooms.”