The Minister for Education, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, has unveiled plans for a sweeping reform of special needs education funding in Ghana, promising enhanced financial support and better learning conditions for students with disabilities.
During a meeting with heads of special needs and integrated schools, Mr. Iddrisu emphasized the urgent need for a more robust and dependable funding framework tailored specifically to children with disabilities. “We are preparing a Cabinet Memo for the attention of the President and my colleagues in Cabinet to take a major decision on the future of special needs education in Ghana,” he announced.
The Minister revealed that the government is considering an annual allocation of between GHS 65 million and GHS 100 million for special needs education, with funding expected from the Ghana Free Education Fund (GFAN). As part of the reforms, he proposed doubling the unfeeder grant from GHS 8 to GHS 15 per student per day to address rising costs and ensure adequate support for learners with disabilities.
Mr. Iddrisu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making Ghana’s free education policy fully inclusive for all special needs learners. He highlighted the necessity of investing in critical infrastructure, increasing accessibility in schools, and providing modern assistive devices to foster a more supportive learning environment.
Attendees were also briefed that the amended GFAN Act will include a provision for free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, widening access to education at all levels.
Encouraging open discussion, the Minister urged participants to speak candidly, saying, “Be as brutally frank as possible,” before leaving for a parliamentary committee meeting.
The proposed reforms mark one of the most ambitious efforts in recent years to transform special needs education and promote equity in Ghana’s educational system.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
