School environment must be made friendly to the disabled

Kumasi, Jan. 21, GNA - A day's workshop designed to discuss ways of making the school environment friendly to physically handicapped children has been held in Kumasi.

It was organized by the Ghana Education Service (GES) with support from the Ghana National Commission on Children and United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO)

Twenty education officers drawn from three Obuasi Municipality, Ejisu-Juaben and Sekyere South districts attended.

Ms Rosemond Blay, Director in-charge of Special Education Division, said this formed part of the "Inclusive Education (I.E) Programme" they had launched to help remove the social stigma suffered by persons with disability.

She said by mainstreaming them into the education system the negative perceptions of society could change.

Ms Blay said she was happy that attention is now being focused on disability issues, adding that, everything should be done to maintain the momentum.

She spoke of the determination of the GES to build the capacity of education officers for successful implementation of the I.E programme and change the attitude of society towards persons with disability.

The I.E programme targets the marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged kids for integration into the mainstream education system.

Mr Joseph Kwabena Onyinah, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, said there was the need to properly harness the talents, skills and potentials of the physically challenged for national development.

GNA