Only 3% of persons with disability are literate

Available records from the United Nations Development Programme show that only three per cent of persons with disabilities are literate.

This means out of every 100 disabled persons only three of them have some form of education which hampers the level of development of every country and need to be addressed.

The Director of the Ghana Blind Union, Dr. Peter Obeng Asamoah, revealed this at 56th Annual Speech and Prize-Giving Day of the Okuapemman School at Akropong in the Eastern Region.

He has therefore stressed on the need for inclusive education for all segments of person through the provision of equal access to education to curb menace.

This year’s speech and prize giving day was on the theme “Inclusive Education: A tool for National Development”. Delivering a paper on the theme, the Director of the Ghana Blind Union, Dr. Obeng Asamoah noted that, education is a fundamental human right of every child which calls for the need for everyone to be carried along the process to achieve its full potentials.

He said quality education must be provided for all children irrespective of their intellectual, physical or social conditions through equal access to educational facilities and resources.

Dr. Obeng Asamoah said persons with disabilities should also be provided the same set of opportunities and avenues as given to their able counterparts for self development.

Good inclusive system of education, Dr. Asamoah noted, acknowledges the fact that all children are capable of learning and educational facilities are made to meet the needs of all the children.

Dr, Asamoah lamented over the fact that people with disabilities especially the blind are marginalized in the society and are denied leadership positions.

Citing an event which occurred during his school days as example, Dr. Asamoah said a colleague was forced to step down his position as an Assistant School prefect just because he was blind.

He also bemoaned the huge sums of money paid by some corporate entities to sponsor events which has less impact on the development of the country which could have been use to create enabling environment for persons with disabilities.

Dr. Obeng Asamoah stressed on the need for persons with disabilities to be equipped with the teaching and learning of ICT to enable them compete favourable in this technology era.

The Headmaster of the School, Daniel Afari, said the school has despite its challenges chalked successes in education, discipline and sports.

He said the school recorded hundred percent in 20012 WASSCE and maintained enviable records in sports.

Mr. Afari mentioned, the late completion of the school’s it science resource centre bad roads leading to the school as the major challenges of the school.

He therefore appealed to government and stakeholders to come to their aid.