Association Of The Deaf Demands Fair Share Of 200 Community SHS

The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), has appealed to the President to ensure that at least, one out of the proposed 200 community Senior High Schools, is equipped with facilities for the hearing impaired. Mr. James Sambian, GNAD Executive Director who made the appeal noted that the construction of at least one hearing impaired second cycle school at each district capital, would be a necessary step in ensuring that those with hearing challenges are not excluded from enjoying the right to education. Mr Sambian stated at a "Deaf Awareness Day," church service organized by the Nsawam Road Church of Christ last Sunday under the theme: "What about the deaf; spiritually, educationally and socially." The GNAD Executive Director bemoaned the inability of a majority of hearing impaired persons to further their education beyond basic school level to Senior High School due to the lack of sign language interpreters even at the tertiary level. He, therefore, called for the provision of sign language interpreters in tertiary institutions, to facilitate access to education at this level for the hearing impaired. Mr. Sambian further appealed to all institutions and society at large, to fulfill their responsibility of making services and information available to the hearing impaired, with the provision of sign language services, which is their universal language. Mr. Marco Stanley Nyarko, teacher at the Mampong School for the Deaf, questioned the commitment of policy makers, educationists and stakeholders to the amendment of policies on deaf education. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. Nyarko advocated for a specially designed curriculum, to meet the needs of deaf education, the organization of refresher courses for special education teachers, and the introduction of pre-school education for the hearing impaired. Mr Benjamin Bekoe, a hearing impaired teacher, made a passionate appeal to corporate bodies and businesses, to employ more hearing impaired persons since they possessed the unique advantage of remaining focused on tasks with no distractions. Mr. Ofori Nimo, Elder of the Church in charge of the Deaf Ministry, encouraged Christians to draw closer to hearing impaired members, because �God created us all.� The congregation was led by interpreters from the Deaf Ministry in a �sign-along,� during the singing of praise and worship songs throughout the service. President Mahama recently disclosed that initial steps regarding the establishment of 200 community day secondary schools across the country have been taken. The President noted that government�s social intervention programmes in the field of education are to facilitate the establishment of the 200 promised community day schools. �Government is beginning the initial steps towards the establishment of 200 new community day secondary schools. �The purpose of this is to create as many spaces as possible for our junior high school graduates to have access to senior high and technical school education,� he stated.