Special Educator calls for teaching assistants and care-givers to enhance their work

Ms Mercy Asiedu, Unit Head of the Madina Special School, has said there is the need for teaching assistants and care-givers at the unit to help with the work.

She said: “It is difficult working as a Special educator and at the same time doing the work of teaching assistant and care-giver, it impedes quality work.”

Ms Asiedu helping a Special Needs student to arrange a puzzle

Ms Asideu explained that some of the children with special needs, needs individualized attention and the limited number of special educators and the lack of teaching assistant as well as care-givers makes it very difficult to do so.

The Special Educator made the call in an interview with the GNA on the progress of the inclusive education policy launched by the Ministry of Education recently.

Ms Asiedu said it was also important that teachers in the mainstream education paid regular visits to the unit schools to enable them to understand the concept of special education and the special needs children.

Under the Inclusive Education Policy, government has established what is called Unit school, a kind of specialized schools attached to mainstream school compound to facilitate the integration of special needs children into mainstream school.

Ms Asiedu said apart from the need for teaching assistants and care-givers, the facility is also under-resourced.

“Our furniture and equipment to aid effective teaching and learning is outdated and the chairs are not conducive for the children, we also lack the appropriate toilet facilities,” she explained.

She said the children are taught according to their needs and undergo training in handiwork and arts and crafts and called on philanthropists and corporate organizations to come to their aid.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Initiator of the Special Mothers project who also visited the Unit School to familiarize herself with activities in the school said the project would partner the school to enhance their work.

The Special Mothers project is an advocacy on cerebral palsy issues and serves as a platform to link parents with CP children while acting as a counselling point for mothers with CP children.

She urged government to also pay attention to special needs children of pre-school age, saying, “Many mothers with CP children are forced to become stay-home mums because most pre-schools refuse their children admission.”

 Mrs Awadzi said early intervention such us enabling them to access schools and mix with other children goes a long way to enhance the future well-being of children with cerebral palsy.

She also urged corporate organizations and individuals to support the project to help give parents and children with CP an enhanced life.