Education

Parents dumping disable children in special schools – GES PRO

Mr Justine Kpan, the Upper West Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has observed that some parents have turned special schools into a dumping site for their disabled children.

He explained that it was done so because, most parents do not provide any support for the pupils, thereby placing all the burden of caring for the wards needs on the school authorities.

Mr Kpan was speaking on behalf of the Upper West Regional Director of Education during the launch of the 50th anniversary of Wa School for the Deaf, on the theme: ‘The impact of Deaf education in the Upper West Region: Successes and Challenges’.

The GES PRO therefore appealed to parents to take keen interest in the education of their disabled children by providing their needs in order to reduce the burden on authorities of such special schools.

Traditional rulers, Bishop of the Wa Catholic Diocese, staff of the school, media, parents, students and other personalities witnessed the occasion.

The school has a Vocational Training Department, which trains students on employable skills such as block laying, masonry, weaving, sewing, and carpentry to prepare them to be on their own after completion.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) youth group ‘Meet your MPs and MMDCEs’ donated both educational and food items worth GHC4000.00 to support the school during a fundraising session.

The items included; 300 exercise books, two sewing machines, a set of weaving machine, two footballs, 25 cartons of soft drinks, two boxes of biscuits, 300 bowls, and 300 cups.

Mr Dauda Iddrisu, Secretary to the group said the party held Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in high esteem and called on all stakeholders to add their voice to conscientise the people on the fact that disability was not inability.

He called for support for PWDs in order for them to achieve their dream, adding that supporting them would help reduce the huge number of beggars on the streets.

Mr Sylvester Bayor, the Headmaster of the School said the school which started with 17 pupils now had a student population of 256, comprising 156 males and 100 females and due to the increasing number of students, accommodation and classrooms had become a major challenge.

Mr Bayor added that because the students were disabled, the number should be minimal so that teachers can be able to handle them.

“One teacher is supposed to handle 12 to 15 pupils, but due to lack of teachers, one teacher is handling over 20 students which affect learning,” he said. GNA

Photo caption: Group picture of school authorities with Traditional leaders and other dignitaries and the donated items

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