The Minister of Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has said schools with special needs will be given more attention to help the students realise their full potential.
According to him, Ghana will progress faster if all its human resources are given equal educational opportunities.
He said there is a conscious effort to train teachers to understand the needs of these students and aid them through their education.
He was speaking at a dinner organized by the Alexis Miranda foundation to raise funds to support children with special needs in Ghana.
Ghana’s Ambassador designate to Israel, Mike Oquaye Jnr., urged parents with children with special needs to ensure there is an insurance package for their upkeep in case they pass on.
Ghana’s Autism Ambassador and host of the Morning Starr at Starr 103.5fm, Francis Abban, urged government and individuals to ensure constant funding to institutions helping to create a better environment for children with special needs.
” It will surprise you to know that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Albert Einstein where autistic. This is to show that some have great potential and will exhibit it if given proper training. The minister has talked about training and retraining of teacher but funds to support these projects are very important.
“I will therefore entreat all to help with the little they can to support this course,” Mr. Abban said.
Film director and autism advocate, Juliet Asante, called for the establishment of basic structure such schools and training centers for children with special needs.
” For a country of about 27 million to have only three autism schools isn’t something pleasant. More needs to be done” Asante said.
Ghanaian Jazz songstress Stephanie Benson who also graced the event urged government to train more speech therapists and other critical professionals to aid in providing essential services.
” I was looking for a speech therapist, so I went in the Internet and found out that there are only three Ghanaians; two are based abroad, I just wondered why” Mrs. Benson told Starr News’ Osei Owusu Amankwaah.
