Ministry of Education to explore funding models for special needs schools in Ghana

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education, says the Ministry is seeking Cabinet approval to amend the GETFund Act to establish free education for all learners with special needs.

The proposed amendment will provide free tertiary education for all persons with disabilities and support infrastructure and feeding for senior high schools that require urgent investment.

The Minister announced this at a meeting with heads of special needs and integrated schools in Accra.

The meeting was to solicit the necessary data, cost analysis, and expert insights required to finalise a Cabinet memo for action. 

Mr Iddrisu underscored the urgent need for a more structured and reliable funding model for special needs learners in the country.

The Minister said the government was considering allocating between GHs 65 million and GHs 100 million annually to support special needs learners.

Mr Iddrisu said the proposal to review the funding for special needs schools was necessitated by his visit to the Okuapeman School for the Blind during its 80th anniversary.

He said the conditions he observed reaffirmed the urgent need to build a world-class model for special needs education in the country.

“If I am able to convince President Mahama, he may make a formal declaration on proper provision of free education for all learners with special needs in the country. 

It will allow the President to walk on the compassionate leg of the whole world.”

The Minister said his outfit was considering increasing the feeding grant for special school learners from GHS7 to GHS15 per student per day.

That, he explained, was critical in meeting the rising cost of supporting learners with disabilities.

Mr Iddrisu commended teachers in special schools for their resilience and patience in imparting knowledge to the learners.

“If you want to identify people who are tolerant and accommodating, you come to your category of teachers. Your sacrifices over the years have been exceptional,” he said.

Mr Iddrisu expressed the Ministry’s commitment to address infrastructure gaps, provide assistive devices, support teacher development, and ensure welfare support for special needs schools.

The heads of special needs schools commended the Minister for his visionary leadership in supporting persons with disabilities.

They appeared for swift action in addressing their challenges to ensure holistic and inclusive education.

Source: GNA

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