Refrain from abusing special needs children in class - Dr Yekple

Acting Head of the Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Yao Yekple, has called on teachers to refrain from abusing special needs children in classrooms as it is against inclusive practices.

Dr. Yekple made the call at an information session the department organised in collaboration with the Effutu Municipal Directorate of the Ghana Education Service for regular classroom teachers at Winneba. 

It was on the topic “Universal Design for Learning, a Pedagogical Tool for Today’s Diverse and Inclusive Classroom”  Dr. Yekple said teachers should be mindful, that  failure to adopt an effective pedagogy to teach is practicing discrimination, or segregation, and that is a saboteur to the practice of an effective inclusive education tantamount to disrespect for learning differences in children. 

He said children with disability have been neglected and excluded from formal education over the years, a scenario that amounts to an infringement on their fundamental human rights.

Dr. Yekple recommends that inclusive education is the only means to address the access and enrolment concerns, as well as the exclusionary and segregation practices for all children with disabilities and those with special educational needs.

SOURCE: GNA
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