Now 40, and a teacher herself, Goh attributes the difficulties she faced in school to a lack of preschools specifically for the deaf.

“I didn’t know anything. I did not know how to sign, I could see words on the blackboard (but I didn’t understand them),” she told FMT with the help of an interpreter.

“My mother gave me homework to (learn) how to write but she could only tell me what was wrong but could not explain it (in sign language).”

Goh said she did not want other deaf kids to experience what she did in school and this was why she chose to work at Taska Istika Jaya in 2014, a preschool for deaf children.

The preschool, the first early intervention centre in the country, is staffed by deaf teachers. However, the school is now on the verge of closing down as funding from the government has been discontinued.

“It is my wish that this preschool can stay open so that we can provide more opportunities for deaf kids to enter schools. I want to encourage them to study, learn and also make sure their families understand their struggles,” she told FMT.

Goh added that the preschool also catered to deaf kids with other disabilities.

“We understand the struggles of deaf kids. A hearing person will never experience that kind of struggle.”

The monthly preschool fees per student is RM300 which includes meals and day-care services. However, the school only charges RM150 a month as all the kids come from poor families.

“We understand that parents who send their kids here are from the B40 group and they don’t earn much. As long as they can send their kids here for an education, it’s good enough,” she said.

Helen Low, a supervisor at the preschool, said government funding was withdrawn when student turnout dropped. However, this only happened because many parents were reluctant to send their kids to preschool after the Covid-19 pandemic.

She added that it would be tragic if the school were to shut as it was a government initiative under Budget 2013.

She worried that should the school be forced to shut because of a lack of funds, many deaf kids will face an uncertain future.

She said not all preschools in the country had teachers who were trained in sign language and as a result, many would not be able to understand the needs of the deaf kids in their care.

“How are they going to teach and guide them?” she asked, adding that education was important for all, regardless of their disabilities.

She said the teachers at Taska Istika Jaya were dedicated to helping these students, and many even spent their off days attending courses and workshops to further improve their skill sets.

Low said she hoped to raise RM200,000 in funds to keep the preschool running, and is appealing to kind-hearted members of the public to donate.

“If we give them (deaf kids) access to education, they will have the opportunity to further their studies, get good jobs, and also be helpful in the development of the country,” she said.

To help Taska Istika Jaya, send a WhatsApp message to FMT’s Helpline at 019-3899839. Please do not call.