Accra, June 27, GNA - Mrs. Susan Kennedy Director of Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service (GES) said on Wednesday communication was a major set back in the education of the deaf because majority of them were unable to go beyond the basic level of education. "It is often difficult getting interpreters for deaf students who make the grade and gain admission to tertiary institutions because interpreters are not available".

Mrs. Kennedy said, to curb the situation, equal emphasis had been placed on academic, technical and vocational programmes to equip the physically challenged with employable skills to make them independent and for economic growth.

Mrs. Kennedy was speaking at a press briefing in Accra, to announce the celebration of the 50 years anniversary of Deaf Education in Ghana. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, (MESP) in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of the Deaf are organising the programme to recognize and honour individuals and Organisations that have distinguished themselves in the education of the deaf for the past 50 years.

The celebration dubbed: "Fifty Years of Deaf Education in Ghana, achievements, challenges and the way forward" is also to create awareness about the capabilities and potentials of the deaf, as well as raise funds to construct a National Assessment Centre to replace the current one.

Mrs. Kennedy noted that eight Special Schools of the physically impaired in the country had been selected to undertake post-Junior Secondary School (JSS), while ICT programmes had also been introduced in all the physically challenged schools to enable them to have access to information and become computer literate.

She said the Education Division of the GES would establish sign language centres for interested teachers and individuals to pursue Diploma and Degree programmes as there was the need for sign language interpreters in hospitals, court rooms, police stations and other public places.

Mrs. Kenney said it was important that a National Council on persons with Disability be establish to enable those persons to participate in the national development process as demanded by the Disability Act. "All children and youth with sensory, physical and intellectual impairments have the right to be educated and participate in activities as far as possible, alongside their peers in the mainstream. This right extends to making educational environments accessible to all students with disabilities".

The Special Education Division is one of the 10 Divisions of the GES, under the MESP, which is responsible for the provision of services and facilities for the children and youth with disabilities at the pre-tertiary level.