Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has reinforced his commitment to advancing special education in Ghana to alleviate the burden on parents and guardians and enhance educational access for all.
At a recent event in Akropong, Eastern Region, Dr. Bawumia announced plans to recruit and train at least 1,000 special education teachers. These teachers will be trained in language, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral therapy to better serve the needs of students with special needs.
During the event, Dr. Bawumia donated laptops to visually impaired teachers within the Ghana Education Service (GES) and inaugurated Information and Communications Technology (ICT) laboratories at both the Akropong School for the Blind and the Wa Methodist School for the Blind.
The Vice-President emphasized that integrating ICT into the education system is part of a broader strategy to make learning more interactive, engaging, and accessible for all students. He expressed hope that students would leverage these opportunities to enhance their academic performance, pursue various career paths, and experience personal growth.
This model is set to be replicated in other special schools nationwide to ensure every child receives a quality education. In May 2022, the GES launched a manual on inclusive education titled “Changing Perspectives: Inclusive Schools in Inclusive Communities.” Funded by the World Bank and developed by Ghanaian experts, this manual offers comprehensive guidance for training teachers and educating special needs children.
Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the manual supports the Inclusive Education (IE) policy’s objectives, transforming special institutions and assessment centers into resource hubs. These centers will focus on assessing children, promoting Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and training mainstream teachers to manage diverse classrooms using appropriate teaching tools and materials.
“Today, the actions we are taking here will move us closer to our goal of ensuring inclusive education and access to all children regardless of ability,” he stated.
As the flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of including children with special needs in the national development agenda. He underscored the country’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Dr. Bawumia praised the Akropong School for the Blind, which has been a pioneer in education for persons with disabilities (PWDs) for nearly 79 years, and announced his intention to spearhead a revolution in special education across Ghana.
