Education Ghana Project #23992

Children with Learning Difficulties in Ghana

by Special Attention Project (SAP)

Project Report | Mar 26, 2020
Parents excited about SAP's education

By Richard Opoku | Project Director

Parents who benefited from SAP’s face-to-face sensitisation programme on learning difficulties and inclusive education have expressed their excitement about the new knowledge acquired.

In February 2020, SAP sensitised hundreds of parents during their Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings. The parents learned how to:

Recognise signs of learning difficulties in children;
Support children with learning difficulties to learn better; and
Work effectively with school authorities and teachers to promote their children’s educational rights.

At the PTA meeting of the Eden Montessori Learning Centre, Akuapim Mampong, George stated:

“I consider this education on learning difficulties very relevant because as parents, it is very important that we know the learning strengths and weaknesses of our children to enable us support them.

"I recommend that you [SAP] come here again to share more information on these learning difficulties,” George added.

Hannah, also a parent at the Eden Montessori Learning Centre, Akuapim Mampong shared:
“Listening to the presentation, I lot was going through my mind. I was just imagining the number of children who are going through abuse and punishment because they find it difficult to learn. I wish this information [on learning difficulties] will reach every parent."

At the PTA of the Idun Kathir Islamic School at Awoshie, Accra, Hajia indicated:
“The part I like about your [SAP] presentation is the successful people who had learning difficulties, but were able to make it in life.

"This means that if we are able to know the learning difficulties of our children and support them, they will be able to pursue their education and achieve their career goals.”

SAP remains resolute to educating more parents and community members on learning difficulties and inclusive education. We however, cannot achieve this without generous support and contributions from donors.

We call on you to join our campaign to help improve the lives of children with learning difficulties in Ghana.

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Dec 30, 2019
SAP raises awareness on Dyslexia beyond Ghana

By Richard Opoku | Project Director

Special Attention Project (SAP) remains committed to spreading information on learning difficulties to help improve learner outcomes and prevent school dropout of children with learning difficulties, as well as promote inclusive education in mainstream schools.

In recognition of SAP’s dedicated services and extensive work in the area of Dyslexia identification and support in Ghana, the organisation’s Project Director, Mr. Richard O. Opoku was invited as a panelist at the First Annual Africa Dyslexia Dialogue, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria.

The dialogue was organised by Dyslexia Nigeria under the theme: "Unmasking Dyslexia,” and it was aimed at raising awareness about Dyslexia and calling on national governments to prioritise the implementation of inclusive education.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Opoku said children with Dyslexia faced multiple forms of educational barriers which hinder them from reaching acceptable levels of educational attainment.

“Despite the introduction of a comprehensive Inclusive Education Policy in Ghana, there is still absence of inclusive systems in mainstream education. Many children with Special Educational Needs, like Dyslexia are compelled to drop out of school and migrate to the streets.

"Those who remain in school learn nothing, and fail to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills,” Mr. Opoku lamented.

He called on governments to put a premium on the implementation of inclusive education, indicating “with inclusive education, the education system can apply innovative learning solutions, including seeking alternative ways that do not require reading and writing to assess children with learning differences like Dyslexia”.

With as many as 36 million Dyslexic Nigerians, Dr. Adrienne Tikolo, Director of Dyslexia Nigeria said it was important that Nigerians discuss how to educate Dyslexics to live more fulfilled lives.

Dr. Tikolo expressed sincere appreciation to SAP’s Project Director saying, “your contribution on Dyslexia was one of the most interesting talks at the dialogue. We believe the knowledge you have shared will help immensely in the development of the education sector and better translate to programmes that will help Dyslexics.”

As we end 2019, the children, Board of Directors and staff of SAP would like to acknowledge the unremitting support of our cherished donors who contributed immensely to our successes in 2019.

We continue to count on the partnerships of donors in 2020 to help scale up impact for children with learning difficulties, by improving learner outcomes and preventing school dropout, as well as intensify advocacy for the educational rights of children with learning difficulties.

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Oct 3, 2019
Pupils with learning problems ready to learn

By Richard Opoku | Project Director

The 2019 edition of SAP’s long vacation classes has been organised with 30 pupils benefiting from the classes.

The six-week classes offered pupils, mostly children with learning problems the opportunity to be assessed for their learning difficulties.

The pupils received individualised learning support to help them learn better and adequately prepare them for the next academic year beginning September 2019.

SAP’s vacation classes focused on developing pupils’ competencies in literacy, numeracy and ICT. Emphasis was placed on phonics in helping pupils to develop reading skills using the FonixGH reading methodology developed by SAP.

The classes also used multisensory approach to teaching and learning and utilised each pupil’s preferred learning style especially in the study of mathematics and ICT.

Both pupils and parents have been sharing their feedback on the classes:

Benjamin (Class 5): “I like the way they teach me at the vacation classes because they have more time for me. At first, I couldn't spell but now I can spell and read.”

Manley (Class 6): “The vacation classes have helped me to know how to do long division and write essays. The teachers at the vacation classes have more time for me than at my school. I will like to come back again.”

Cyrus (JHS 1): “The vacation classes have been very helpful to me. Previously I couldn’t read or spell but now I can read and spell as well. I prefer the teaching here than at my school because the teachers have more time for me here and teach me to understand. I would like to come back again.”

Evelyn (parent): “Since my son started coming to the classes, at least he can now differentiate between some letters and write them. It is a small improvement but it is better than before.”

Godknows (parent): “I have seen a remarkable improvement in my sons’ performance. I wish they had started this classes earlier.”

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