New Horizon Foundation launches TEACH Project to promote inclusive education

The New Horizon Foundation for the Blind, in partnership with the AUMUND Foundation of Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk (DBHW), has launched the Technology Enhanced Accessible Classroom for Higher Impacts (TEACH) project, an initiative designed to advance inclusive education for visually impaired learners in the Volta Region.

The project aims to bridge long-standing gaps in educational access by equipping selected schools with assistive technology, accessible learning materials, and specialised teacher training.

Beneficiary schools include Ho Kpodzi E. PJHS A and B, Mawuli Senior High School in the Ho Municipality, as well as the Vota School for the Deaf and the Blind in the Hohoe Municipality.

Project Lead Stephen Aflo explained during a stakeholders’ meeting that TEACH was created to meet the unique needs of visually impaired learners through the integration of technology and inclusive teaching methods. He said the initiative will train ICT teachers to adapt the ICT curriculum for visually impaired students, while regular classroom teachers will be guided on inclusive pedagogies that allow all learners to participate fully.

The programme will provide digital devices, accessible textbooks, and teaching aids. These include computers, laptops, projectors, tablets, as well as books in formats such as audio, Braille, large print, Word documents, and PDF. Teachers will also be supported to create accessible diagrams and test materials. Aflo stressed that building the capacity of resource teachers is a central part of the project’s design and emphasizes sustained support for affected students.

Running from September 2025 to August 2026, the year-long initiative is funded by the AUMUND Foundation. Aflo noted that sustaining the project beyond its initial phase is a major priority. To ensure long-term maintenance of devices and continuity of support, the project is involving parents, the Ghana Education Service, and the Social Welfare Department.

GES Volta Regional Director Francis Agbemadi highlighted the importance of inclusive education, insisting that every child deserves equal access to quality learning. He praised the New Horizon Foundation for the Blind for its dedication to empowering learners with visual impairments, adding that the TEACH project breaks long-standing barriers and unlocks new possibilities for students.

Agbemadi said the initiative provides learners with visual impairments an opportunity to explore the world of digital literacy, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies such as nanotechnology. He encouraged teachers and school leaders to adopt innovative teaching approaches that embrace inclusion and create classrooms where every learner feels valued.

The GES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts that expand educational access for learners with special needs. Agbemadi stressed that technology can only be transformative when it is accessible to all, calling for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to advance inclusive education.

He concluded by reminding participants that inclusive education is a matter of justice and dignity, noting that every learner has value and every dream deserves the chance to flourish.