Headmaster appeals for support for inclusive education

Mr Daniel Afari, the Headmaster of Okuapemman Senior High School, has appealed to the government, NGO’s and philanthropists to assist all-inclusive educational institutions that provide education for both the able and the disabled students.

He said the school was faced with challenges such as lack of text books in Braille, irregular supply of Braille sheets, inadequate computers for the ICT laboratory, lack of accommodation for resource teachers and lack of audio-laboratory and internet facility for the special ICT laboratory.

He made the appeal at the 30th anniversary celebration of inclusive education under the theme “30 years of inclusive education at Okuapemman School: achievements, challenges and the way forward.”

Mr Afari said since the introduction of inclusive education at Okuapemman School in the 1983/84 academic year, the school had enrolled nearly 1,000 visually impaired students, adding they they had 50 visually impaired students on enrollment in the school.

Osaberima Ansah Sasraku III, Mamfehene and Kyidomhene of Akuapem Traditional Area, said the introduction of the program to the school had helped many visually impaired students to improve upon their education and are contributing their quota to the development of the country.

He called for more schools in the country to adopt the system and provide opportunity for more disabled persons to improve upon their education and lead decent lives.

Osaberima Ansah Sasraku appealed to the Eastern Regional Minister to help reconstruct the road from the school’s entrance to the school compound to help facilitate the activities of the visually impaired students.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako Sekyere, the Eastern Regional Minister, said the future was bright for inclusive education.

However, he said, certain measures like the periodic collection of basic data on the degree of visually impairment, their educational and health needs as well as other data that can assist visually impaired students to integrate so well in the school set up, must be adhered to.

Mr Antwi-Boasiako said constant lectures, seminars, workshops and discussions must be organized in the schools to broaden the outlook of the visually impaired students and urged the school authorities to ensure that in the school are disable friendly to allow the students access to them.

Mr Edem Bentum Takyi Micha, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Afrodan Group of Companies, expressed concern about the slow pace of the adoption of the inclusive education system.

He appealed to the public to employ the disabled to give them the opportunity to explore their capabilities.

The occasion was marked with the inauguration of a renovated visually impaired resource centered which was funded by the 1985 year group at the cost of GH¢20,000.00.