By Laudia Sawer
Ashaiman, Feb. 28, GNA – Mr. Courage Wormenor, the National Vice President of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), says the government’s promise of free tertiary education for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is not enough to cushion against their concerns.
Mr. Wormenor said this in reaction to President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement that PWDs in tertiary institutions will not pay fees.
He told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that “we cannot have free education in an inaccessible environment.”
He added that even though it was good for them to have opportunities to be educated, most of the universities had barriers that impede the movement of PWDs.
“We are happy about the free education, but much work needs to be done in the universities,” he stated.
The GSPD vice president further said free education was a great policy, stressing that accessibility was crucial and needed to be addressed by the government and the tertiary institutions.
He disclosed that many universities lack accessible infrastructure like ramps, elevators, rest, or washrooms for PWDs.
“So, you see, the initiative is good, but PWDs cannot go to school because of the barriers. The way forward is that the government and universities must prioritise accessibility and inclusivity to ensure that students with disabilities can fully participate in and benefit from their education.”
He noted that this involved retrofitting existing buildings, constructing new accessible facilities, and providing accommodations such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials, and assistive technology to aid their academic journey.
Touching on President Mahama’s promise of the government to ensure that five percent of all employment would be reserved for PWDs, he said it was a good initiative that promoted inclusive employment.
He, however, said such job opportunities should not be limited to only university graduates but rather should be opened to all PWDs regardless of their educational background.
He explained that because most of the PWDs struggle to complete senior high school, some of them might also have acquired skills training or apprenticeship; therefore, limiting it to university graduates would disadvantage the remaining large numbers of PWDs.
GNA