The ‘Doofstomme- en Blinde Instituut’ was founded in 1881 by the Dutch Reformed Church. After an apportion of the blind and the deaf, the name was changed to ‘Worcester Skool vir Dowes’ but changed once more in 1981 to ‘De la Bat School’. The school has done pioneer work and has gone from strength to strength with respect to educating the hearing impaired during the past century.

De la Bat School is a prestigious school of excellence, providing specialized education to deaf children. Our students range from 3 to 20 years and are from the Western Cape, other provinces, Namibia and Zimbabwe. They are deaf OR hard of hearing, or have multiple disabilities and are frequently from disadvantaged families. Only 35% of parents are able to pay school fees.

With the aid of effective, modern facilities and equipment, the staff endeavours to keep abreast with the latest developments to accompany the deaf on their long road of acquiring knowledge and to help them to fully develop and realize their potential.

At the school we keep in step with the latest educational philosophies and techniques, and to research into any new areas of vocational training and academic programs. Continual planning for meaningful change and for renewal is done, but this goes hand in hand with maintaining De la Bat’s tradition of quality and standards of excellence.

Programmes and Services:
- Pre-school development and school-readiness programmes.
- Formal education from grades 1 to 12
- Career orientated education
- Skills orientated programmes
- Healthcare
- Social Services
- Psychological Care
- Diverse Sports- and Cultural Activities
- Development of leadership skills
- Audiology services
- A department for Deaf students with multiple disabilities.

The chief aim at De la Bat is opening doors for the hearing impaired to a wider world, and in so doing, to a richer and more meaningful life.

Operates in: Worcester, Western Cape
Established in: 1881

Non-Profit Organisation Number: 002-874
Public Benefit Organisation Number:
Section 21 Company Number:
Trust Number:

Contact person: Tania Joubert
Phone: 023 342 2560
Fax: 023 342 5563
Email:

Website: www.delabatskool.co.za

Physical address: 30 De la Bat Avenue, Worcester
Postal address: P O Box 98, Worcester