<<Print>>

The Headmistress of the Garden City Special School for the intellectually Disabled at Asokore Mampong in the Ashanti Region, Dr Roselind Adjapong has appealed to the government to release their feeding grants to enable them effectively run the school as they have become financially unsound to manage the day to day administration of the school. As a result, the school is running into debt of over GHC20,000 which according to her, is very shameful and that they have not been treated well by the government. I am not the only school affected, all the special schools in the country are in the same situation. What has made our situation more difficult is that because of the disability law, we are not allowed to charge school fees like the other schools and so depend only on government grants. If these grants are not coming you can imagine the challenges we go through as an institution. "The government even owes us in arrears which has given us bad reputation in the eyes of our suppliers", she added. Dr Adjapong who disclosed this to UTV NEWS at a special Christmas treat organized for students and management of the Garden City Special School by management and staff of Anita Hotel added that the school which has a student population of 208 needs expansion to absorb more students who are mentally challenged and cannot gain admission. This is the only school with a boarding facility which serves the Northern Sector but we lack the needed infrastructure. The Director of Anita Hotel Limited who gave students of the school the special treat said it is about time other benevolent organizations turn their attention on these special school as they are in dire need of assistance financially. These are children who need Special attention, care and training so if they lack the basic amenities which will improve the lives of the students and teachers then they will continue to be in a very difficult situation, she told UTV NEWS She also appealed to parents not to abandon children with these forms of disability explaining that it is not the fault of these children to be born that way, they should be given special treatment and care to make them feel part of society. She expressed her sincerest appreciation to authorities of the school for their unflinching support.