Ashanti School for the Deaf appeals for infrastructural support

Mr Kofi Oti-Frimpong, Headmaster of the Ashanti School for the Deaf in Jamasi has appealed to government to support the school with basic infrastructural facilities for smooth teaching and learning to take place.

The shortfall in classrooms, dormitories and furniture as well as toilet facilities was seriously affecting smooth academic work, he said.

The headmaster made the appeal when the GNA visited the school on Monday to ascertain the impact of the teachers’ industrial strike on academic work.

As at 1000 hours, most teachers including the headmaster were at post; while pupils and students were responding to lessons in their respective classes.

Mr Oti-Frimpong told the GNA that the acute infrastructural deficit has resulted in overcrowding in classrooms and dormitories.

He expressed worry about the conditions that the pupils were being exposed to, saying that, it could lead to the outbreak or the spread of contagious diseases.

Mr Oti-Frimpong said, in a deaf school, a teacher is expected to handle a minimum of five pupils and a maximum of ten; the situation as it is in the school, teachers are compelled to handle a minimum of 29 and a maximum of 50.

He said every school going child needed to go to school as the constitution stipulates, but dormitories have become a big challenge to deaf children, adding “they cannot be denied education as a result of their circumstances”.

He bemoaned high number of teachers leaving the school because of unattractive conditions coupled with tight supervision role.

“Teachers in specialized schools are entitled to one Ghana Cedi allowance a month; however, it is not even forthcoming,” he said.

According to Mr Oti-Frimpong, feeding and administrative grants are not only insufficient, but government does not release it on time.

He added “since May 2012 up to date such grants have not been released making it extremely difficult to run the school”.

He pleaded with government to ensure timely release of feeding and administrative grants for smooth running of the school.

The school’s authority also called on public spirited individuals, non-governmental and governmental organisations to provide sufficient tables and chairs for teachers, dining hall tables and benches as well as classrooms desks.

The only clinic that takes care of the special needs of the deaf pupils have been abandoned due to the refusal of health professionals to be posted there.

The 34 seater water closet has also been closed down due to the lack of water, with no option for staff and pupils than having to make do with a pit latrine.

The Ashanti school for the deaf was established in 1977 with nine pupils but today its population stands at 571 with 57 teachers.

It is the only special education institution for the deaf in the Ashanti region. As a result of the strategic geographical location of the school, most parents outside the catchment area prefer sending their deaf children to the school.

The school has five departments namely, Kindergarten, Primary School, Junior High School, Assessment Centre and Vocational department.

But the headmaster said the vocational department is fading out because of lack tools to work with.