Children with Learning Difficulties in Ghana

SAP initiated special vacation classes for children with learning difficulties this academic year with over 50 children benefiting from the classes.

The vacation classes form an integral part of SAP's school-level interventions to help struggling children learn better.

Through SAP's sensitisation sessions on leaning difficulties with parents during PTA meetings, children identified as showing signs of learning difficulties are enrolled in the classes.

"What makes this vacation classes special is that we are using an Individualised Education Plan to teach the children, most of who have learning problems in reading.

"The classes are therefore, tailored toward the specific learning needs of the children to help improve their areas of learning difficulties," Monica, a teacher at SAP explained.

Another teacher, Moses, said: "We have grouped the children into smaller groups and each child receives special attention from a teacher based on his or her learning need. The classes are also special because they are creating the opportunity for children from various schools to  fraternise."

Some children have been sharing their experiences about the vacation classes so far:

Gifty (Age 10, Class 4):
"The good thing is that when I attended the classes, the teachers asked me a lot of questions about my learning. They also made me to do an exercise to find out which subject I couldn't do well. And since then, the teachers have been paying attention to me to be able to learn better."

Thomas (Age 9, Class 3):
"This classes is different. I like the way the teachers teach. They sit with me and make sure that I understand whatever I'm being taught. I really like the classes."

Leticia (Age 11, Class 5):
"The teachers are patient and when I don't understand anything, they assist and encourage me to learn more."

Some parents have also been sharing the impact the classes are having on their children:

Mr. Peter (parent):
"I have three children in the vacation classes and my third son ( class 1) who normally didn't like speaking English now speaks English at home. I see him learning on his own by reciting letter sounds he has been taught at the vacation classes."
 
Madam Esther (parent):
My daughter couldn't read well but when she joined the classes, she is beginning to read. I made her to read to me all that she has learnt at the vacation classes and she was able to read."

Links:

• http://www.sapghana.com

Joshua dropped out of school in class 3 but was later readmitted to class 1 because he couldn't read, write nor spell his name. He dropped out again apparently due to his learning problems and migrated to the street to avoid being forced to go back to school. Prior to being admitted to SAP's Children Programme a month ago, he couldn't also count or write numbers from 1-100 and also solve basic mathematics.

Through SAP's Individualised Education Plan based on Joshua's learning needs, he's learning to read and count at age 11. With the help of FonixGH Activity Book, Joshua can now identify letter sounds and blend letters to read words in sentences. He can also count and write numbers from 1-20 correctly, and he's delighted with this progress.  

"I'm very happy that I'm learning to read and count now. I'm very grateful to SAP," Joshua said.

Links:

• Special Attention Project, Accra