By Comfort Sena Fetrie-Akagbor, GNA
Tema, April 07, GNA-Mr Richard Doku, a hearing-impaired teacher, has called for the integration of sign language into Ghana’s basic school curriculum to promote inclusive education.
Mr Doku said introducing sign language at the basic level would help bridge communication gaps for Deaf learners and improve social interaction among students.
He made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), where he emphasised the need for a standardised approach to sign language instruction across schools.
He suggested that the curriculum should cover basic elements such as greetings, pronouns, food items, and everyday conversations, with emphasis on facial expressions and body language.
According to him, incorporating sign language into mainstream education would move beyond the current system, where it was largely limited to special schools for the deaf.
He said the initiative would also create broader career opportunities and promote inclusivity in both education and the workplace.
Mr Doku noted that effective teaching should combine sign language with speech and text to support bilingual learning and improve communication outcomes.
He added that students could learn through structured lessons, including practical exercises in basic conversations.
“There is a need to move beyond static sign language books to more dynamic video-based learning resources,” he said.
Mr Doku urged stakeholders in the education sector to prioritise teacher training and continuous professional development to support the successful implementation of sign language in schools.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo