The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) has allocated GH¢100 million to support the implementation of free education for persons with special needs across the country.
Speaking at the Government’s Accountability Series on Monday, July 20, the Minister said the funding was made possible through amendments to the GETFund Act aimed at strengthening support for inclusive education.
Mr Iddrisu explained that the amendment introduced specific funding commitments, including support for the feeding component of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme and dedicated funding for persons with disabilities.
“When the GETFund Amendment Act was presented before Parliament, it was to amend the GETFund Act. One was to dedicate the financing of Free Senior High School feeding to GETFund. The second was also to dedicate fees for persons with disabilities to GETFund,” he said.
He added that the amendment also included a provision requiring GETFund to provide annual support for free education for persons with special needs.
“In that amendment was an amendment for GETFund to annually provide for the provision of free education for persons with special needs to keep them with our pledge as a government to promote inclusive and equitable education,” the Minister stated.
According to Mr Iddrisu, the government’s commitment to inclusive education is being backed by concrete interventions, including the procurement of assistive devices for learners with difficulties.
“Accordingly, GETFund has allocated GH¢100 million to support the implementation of the free education for persons with special needs,” he said.
“For the first time in many years, assistive devices will be procured to support learners with difficulties across the country,” he added.
The education minister further disclosed that the government is preparing to undertake rehabilitation works at key special education institutions, including the School for the Blind in Akropong, the School for the Deaf in Savelugu, and another special needs school in the Upper West Region.
He also announced an increase in feeding grants for students with special needs, from GH¢8 to GH¢15.
“We have also, as a government, increased the feeding grants for students with special needs from GH¢8 to GH¢15, and we have walked the talk on this matter,” Mr Iddrisu said.
Beyond infrastructure and financial support, the Minister said the government was working to improve learning materials and curricula for learners with disabilities.
“We are developing a Mathematics curriculum for learners with visual impairment and developing a standardised sign language curriculum for hearing-impaired learners in the country,” he stated.
Mr Iddrisu said the measures demonstrate the government’s commitment to building an education system that provides equal opportunities for all learners, including persons with special needs.
