Children with disability prepare 10-point resolution for parliament

Children with Disability in the Upper West Region have presented a 10-point manifesto to be submitted to parliament, calling for more access to the benefits of education as enjoined in the inclusive education policy.

The presentation was made in Jirapa as part of the Worldwide “Ring the Bell Campaign” for Education for Children with Disability on the theme: “All Children welcome in school including Children with Disability.”

Ms Mary Delle and Miss Clarissa Ziekye from Girls Model Junior High School jointly read the manifesto.

The 10 action points were stated as follows: all children want to be able to reach school; provide children with disability (adapted) transport to school; all children want to be able to enter and pass through the school; and make school buildings, furniture and grounds accessible for children with disability.

It also said: all children want to be able to visit the restroom; provide an adapted restroom at every school for children with disability; all children want to receive ‘honest’ education; adapt lessons and rules for children with disability; all children want to play; allow children with disability to participate in sports and games at school and all children want friends.

The rest are: teach children how they can be there for children with a disability; all children want parents to help; stand up as parents for children with disability; all children want good guidance; train teachers how they can better counsel children with disability; all children want positive attention: children with disability have the right to go to school and all children want to just be a kid, as well as let children with disability advance and enjoy.

Miss Patricia Takyiwaa Amoateng, the Project Officer of SWEB said the manifesto received signatories from several stakeholders and would be presented to parliament to take action soon.

She explained that the objective of the campaign is to advocate, so that Ghanaian Children with Disabilities have access to education and benefit fully from the country’s education policy and programmmes.

Pupils carried placards with various messages and made deafening noises for about five minute using bells, drums, et cetera as a symbol to attract the attention of policymakers and other stakeholders to eliminate barriers that prevent them from being in school.

Participants who shared the children’s action wrote their names and signed the manifesto as their commitment and for onward submission to parliament.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to treat children with disability with special care.

Credit: GNA