By Muyid Deen Suleman, GNA
Kumasi, July 20, GNA- The government has increased the daily feeding stipend for special needs schools from GHS 8.00 to GHS 15.00 per child.
The adjustment, which took effect this year, is intended to help the schools meet essential daily obligations and reduce the financial strain on staff and management in catering for children and young adults in all the 30-government assisted special needs schools across the country.
The increment is also in fulfillment of government promise during the electioneering campaign to provide adequate resources for special needs schools in the country.
In practical terms, the additional funds are expected to support regular feeding, provide basic learning materials, and improve overall welfare of the learners, who depend on the schools for both education and care.
Mrs. Roseline Adjepong, the Headmistress of the Garden City Special School at Asokore-Mampong, and Chairperson of Conference of Heads of Special Needs Schools, speaking in an interview with the GNA, noted tha, the increase of the stipend was having a significant impact on the schools’ operations.
She explained that the schools’ feeding programme had been more consistent since the government intervention, adding that, with the previous stipend, management sometimes struggled to sustain balanced meals throughout the day.
She said, currently the schools were satisfied with the government intervention in that direction and thanked the government for that.
Mrs. Adjepong further stated that, with the government bold decision to place all Special Needs school under the GETFUND, it had so far been refreshing, because it signals stronger commitment to financing education for learners with disabilities and special educational needs.
She added that, for instance, her school, the Garden City Special School, with the population of 242 inmates, made up of 153 males and 89 females, the increase stipend had encouraged classroom participation and improved the morale of both learners and teachers.
According to her, when learners were properly fed and comfortable, they were more willing to attend lessons, engage in group activities, and participate in practical sessions at the vocational department.
She thanked the government for the support and reminded the government of the promise made to get the school new vehicles.
She also thanked the MP for the area, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, for the numerous support to the school.
She disclosed that recently the MP donated food items to the school for the daily upkeep of the inmates, which had helped to supplement the school’s feeding schedule.
The MP, she said, had also donated 60 chairs and tables for the classrooms and given the school two regular sewing machines and one industrial sewing machine to aid teaching and learning at the vocational department.
She indicated that the sewing machines had improved practical training, enabling learners to acquire employable skills that could support their future livelihoods.
Mrs Adjepong called on philanthropists to support the school, saying continuous assistance was necessary to enhance infrastructure and ensure that learners were trained in the right learning environment.
She noted that support in cash and kind, including teaching and learning materials, hygiene supplies and assistive items, would go a long way to strengthen the school’s efforts.
The school currently has 48 teaching and non-teaching staff.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Benjamin Mensah