Inclusive Education must be shared responsibility – Headmistress

Mrs. Selina Twum-Ampofo, Headmistress of the Madina Demonstration Basic and Special School says Inclusive Education must be shared responsibility and all stakeholders must be on board.

She thus called on the La-Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly to pay their part and ensure the smooth implementation of the Inclusive Education policy within the school.

“As a school, we lack some basic things like tables, chairs among others and I believe the municipal assembly can support us in that direction,” she added.

Mrs. Twum-Ampofo made the remarks when the Special Mothers Project, a non-governmental organization, handed over a two seater toilet facility with a bio digester to the Special Unit of the Madina Demonstration School.

The Headmistress said the provision of the toilet facility for the Special Unit was timely, it will be easier to toilet train the children and the children with special needs do not have to walk across the school compound to access the toilet.

Mrs. Twum-Ampofo expressed her gratitude to the Special Mothers Project for their continuous support to the Special unit of the school

Mr. Eric Brown Mingle, Organizing Secretary of the School Management Committee, added his voice to the call for the Municipal Assembly to provide basic things like tables, chairs and other learning and teaching equipment to the school

Ms. Sylvia Kuagbenu, the Municipal Special Needs and Inclusive Education Coordinator, expressing her gratitude said it was important that as a country we pay more attention to children with special educational needs.

She said giving more attention to special education automatically enhanced Inclusive education.

Mr. Joseph Baidoo, the School Improvement and Support Officer (SISO) expressed the wish that the Special Mothers project could replicate the support to other schools across the municipal and even across Ghana.

Mr Nicholas Owusu, in charge of Finance and Administration at the La-Nkwantanang Municipal Education who represented the Municipal Director, lauded the Special Mothers Project for the support.

He called on philanthropists to consider adding a bathroom to the toilet facilities, saying “we know that children with special educational needs might also need a bathroom attached to their unit.

Mr. Anthony Obour Ofori, Assistant Planning Officer at the Municipal Assembly said he will relay their schools request to the Assembly and promised to follow up for the school

Ms. Patience Puplampu, Project Officer at the Special Mothers Project, said the project hopes that Government will dedicate one classroom in every cluster of school for children with special educational needs.

She said putting in place and implementing such a policy will enhance the lives of families nurturing children with special needs.

Ms. Puplampu expressed gratitude to Mrs. Eugenia Enam Aku Gakogo and Mr. Kwadwo Boateng Ntim for their support during the fundraising for the project.

By: Hannah Awadzi