Most school children have hidden impairments

Wa, Oct. 21, GNA - Between 20 and 30 per cent of school children in schools perform at their minimum levels as a result of varying degrees of impairments, Mrs. D.D. Kwadade, Acting Director of Special Education Division has said.

She said most of the children in their unknown impairment state are unable to follow instructions, unable to make friends, unresponsive and withdrawn and given inappropriate and false responses, among others. As a result, Mrs Kwadade said the Inclusive Education Approach would screen and assess all children, identify those with such impairments and provide the necessary resources to enable them to overcome their difficulties and maximize their output.

Mrs Kwadade said this at Wa on Monday when she addressed the 23rd annual conference of Heads of Special Schools (COHESS). The conference brought together heads of 22 special schools throughout the country, who would, among other things, deliberate on burning issues bordering the enhancement of the education and general performance of children with disabilities at their various schools.

Mrs. Kwadade called for a closer collaboration between Special Education Division, special schools and various district directorates of education to bridge the yawning gap between the education of physically challenged children and their healthy counterparts.

"What we are driving at is that no child should be denied education because of barriers in the learning environment, be it physical or classroom factors.

Mr Jacob M. Bagonluri, Regional Director of Ghana Education Service said a lot of efforts are being made to facilitate the education of disabled persons and much efforts should be made to employ them in the public sector just like others.

He commended Ghana Television for bringing the sign language on their screens and called for the promulgation of a disability Act. Mr. Bagonluri appealed to the media and other meaningful bodies to educate parents of disabled children to send them to school to learn trades and skills and not to abandon them on streets as beggars.