All institutions have to include Inclusive Education issues in their planning documents, which are reviewed annually. inclusive education is an approach that looks into how to transform education systems and other learning environments in order to respond to the diversity of learners. The Inclusive Education Policy provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the education sector to address the diverse learning needs of various categories of citizens in the Ghanaian education system under the universal design for learning and within a learner friendly environment for all. The problems of Inclusive education in Ghana have been noted to be around teacher attitudes and skills, resources and a gulf between policy initiation and implementation. Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy provides a more harmonized and strategic approach to planning and financial prioritization in order to roll-out Inclusive Education activities on a wider scale and reach all learners with special educational needs. This is to make sure that all children of school going age have Basic Education. The policy further recognizes the varied learning needs of learners and requires all stakeholders to address the diverse needs of different groups of citizens in the Ghanaian education system. 41 a significant barrier to the effective implementation of inclusive education in 42 South Africa. Basic education in Ghana consists of nine years of education from Primary one to the end of the three year Junior Secondary School. the inclusion of children with disabilities in the mainstream school system. Inclusive education is a process of increasing the participation of all students in schools including those with disabilities. The involvement of non-state actors was key to the policy’s adoption, along with an accompanying implementation plan. The Inclusive Education programme expanded from 29 districts in seven regions in 2011 to 216 districts in all 10 regions by 2016. A 2014 doctoral thesis noted that there is evidence of acceptance of children with disabilities into mainstream schools in Ghana, but that a number of challenges remain. The involvement of non-state actors such as the UNICEF, STAR-Ghana, Inclusion Ghana, Ghana Blind Union, the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition, and the World Education have been crucial to the development of the policy and they acknowledged and appreciated. As part of efforts to address challenges facing children with disabilities, the SPED of GES initiated the development of the Inclusive Education Policy and Minimum Standards and Guidelines. Policy Initiatives To guide the practice of inclusive education in the country, the Ghana Government recently developed a policy to guide its operation (Ministry of Education, 2015). The forum was held under the theme: “The Implementation of Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy: What is the progress so far”. Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy of 2013 is a national legally-binding policy. jeleel@inclusion-ghana.org Inclusive Education - Standards and Guidelines Putting Inclusive Education into practice in Ghana UNICEF/UN578611/QUARMYNE. Ghana’s concept of inclusive education, however, is aligned with her FCUBE policy - increasing access, retention and participation of all students of school going age in education and not the movement and provision of education to children with disabilities in regular schools. Beginning in the 1970s there was a new policy adopted for assuring the education of these young people. The Policy is a national document which is clear cut and comprehensive to give guidance to Inclusive Education implementation in Ghana. anthony.boateng@mail.com, Media – UNICEF Ghana, 2014: http://www.unicef.org/ghana/media_8503.html Gender equality and social inclusion are, therefore, at the heart of the STAR Ghana Foundation. Inclusive Education policy (White Paper 6) 35 . Basic education in Ghana consists of nine years of education from Primary one to the end of the three year Junior Secondary School. «Inclusive Education is not a tragedy. Sensitization & training Removing barriers to participation in learning for all learners is at the core of inclusive education systems (UNESCO, 2005). The Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was established by an Act of Parliament in 2000, Act 581, to promote the development of education in the country. Ensuring that #LearningNeverStops in the COVID-19 pandemic, Changing the future for girls in Krachie East through STEM, 400,000 children in Ghana not enrolled in pre-primary education - UNICEF, Improving the lives of children with special needs, THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD. 43 In Ghana the implementation of inclusion is well recognized and policies 44 enacted however, there are inconsistencies with regards to practices, teachers ‘varying attitudes to include children45 with learning problems as well as skewed This Policy Brief on Gender and Education was commissioned by STAR Ghana for their Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) programming. Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy provides a more harmonized and strategic approach to planning and financial prioritization in order to roll-out Inclusive Education activities on a wider scale and reach all learners with special educational needs. This is the only way that stereotypes and ill-informed misconceptions about disabilities can be The responsibilities of ministries are clearly defined and the government is the principal funder. inclusive education systems, and in line with EU and international priorities , the Agency published the Agency Position on Inclusive Education Systems (European Agency, 2015). It has promoted and supported inclusive education practices in South Africa since 1995. Another initiative taken by the Government of Ghana was to pass a disability law (Act 715), which made provisions for inclusive education (Republic of Ghana, 2006). The contribution of state actors particularly the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Health, the National Council for Persons with Disability and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social protection are acknowledged. For a full copy of the Inclusive Education Policy,or if you have concerns related to learners with special educational needs, please contact: the Special Education Division (SpED) of the Ghana … This involves qualified personnel (administrators), community involvement and support, and a political will from the government. From these discussions there emerged a new concept of integration called inclusive education or inclusive schools. To roll-out these activities, UNICEF, the Ghana Blind Union, and Inclusion Ghana commenced discussions with the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders to develop a policy framework. Volume 1 of Ghana’s Education Strategic Plan 2010 – 2020 covers policies, strategies, delivery and finance. Staff, community, and media are also sensitized. Inclusive Education South Africa is a registered non-profit organization. This includes the use of different methods of respond to children’s needs, capacities and rates of development. Inclusive Education Policy In 2015, the Government of Ghana completed the development of an IE Policy together with the Inclusive Education Monitoring Tool (IEMT), Implementation Plan and the Standards/Guidelines. Inclusive Education Policy and Practice in Ghana. This policy is focused on the informal educational sector which … COST (GH¢) TIME FRAME AGENCY RESPONSIBLE COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS In the area of education, Enabling Education Network (EENET) was created to promote the inclusion of the marginalized A learner with autism supported by a caregiver, participating in mainstream school. Our perspective on gender equality is focused on ensuring that women and men, boys and girls are empowered to pursue their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and are valued as equal and active participants in the wellbeing of their households, workplaces, communities and societies. This involved the integration of young people with special learning needs into normal schools, without taking them out of the classroom (except in very exceptional situations), but by setting up teaching experiences adapted to all of the children, whatever their needs. The Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy has partnered with Afri-Educational plus, an education oriented organization in the United States to support Ghana’s Inclusive Education policy Key personnel from the Ghana Education Service as well as head teachers and teachers in 1,322 basic schools have been trained in Inclusive Education. ... Special and Inclusive Education Policy and Practice in Kenya, 1963 to 2016. Before implementing Inclusive Education on a national scale, Ghana first piloted the policy and learned what works and what does not work. Other countries of the Global South can easily decide to follow Ghana’s approach. Our approach In-Service Tutor Development in Support of Inclusive Education. The authors argue that there is the need for a holistic review of the program to ground the policy within the education system of Ghana. Ghana has successfully launched a national inclusive education (IE) policy framework to address the educational challenges encountered by children with special needs. Removing barriers to participation in learning for all learners is at the core of inclusive education systems (UNESCO, 2005). This policy builds upon sections in the 1992 Constitution, the National Development Agenda, the Education Strategic Plan and International Commitments to achieve national as well as international goals for creating an environment for addressing the diverse educational needs of Ghanaians. Focusing on inclusive education can Inclusive Education Policy and Practice in Ghana In Search of an Inclusive Pedagogy in South Africa Special and Inclusive Education Policy and Practice in Kenya, 1963 to 2016 In 2013, the Ghana Ministry of Education in collaboration with other stakeholders announced the Inclusive Education Policy. Social Policy and Social Spending in Zimbabwe: 1980 to 2015; Social Policy and the Quest for Inclusive Development: Research Findings from Sub-Saharan Africa; The Human Rights-Based Approach to Social Protection (Issue Brief 2) The Riddle of Distance Education: Promise, … Gender equality Education in crisis Inclusive education Early education Learning assessments Teaching quality Data systems. Inclusive Education has been or is being adopted by most members of the United Nations. The success of inclusive education depends largely on a country's commitment to adopting appropriate legislation, developing policies, and providing adequate funding for implementation. Efua Esaaba Mantey, Accessibility to inclusive education for children with disabilities, 2014: http://bit.ly/1ioOE5I, Nominated by: Auberon Jeleel ODOOM, Inclusion Ghana, Inclusive Education rolled out throughout Ghana (PDF) Education materials and assistive devices have been distributed to schools. Inclusive Education: Public Policies - FCUBE - Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education. in Comparative and International Education Institute of Educational … The Policy and its Development Process •Ghana’s IE Policy is a framework that contains a more harmonized and strategic approach to planning, implementing and monitoring IE activities on a wider scale to reach all learners with SEN in the country. 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