Tarkwa (W/R), Feb. 14, GNA - Persons who are mentally challenged should not be neglected by society but should be given special education to make them fit into society, Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Ayensu, Wassa West District Chief Executive has said.

Mr Ayensu said this at the inauguration of the

Hooper Memorial District Assembly Primary Unit for

children with special needs. He advised the teachers to handle children with

disability with extra care and patience in order to

gradually unearth the potentials in them. Mr Ayensu also appealed to parents not to confine

their mentally challenged children to the home but to

bring them out for training. The Hooper Memorial Primary Unit for children with

special needs, which is the 23rd in the country, has 10

pupils; four boys and six girls and is sponsored by the

German Technical Corporation with special training of

teachers by the University of Education at Winneba. Madam Rose Amoah, head teacher, appealed to the

District Assembly, the Ghana Education Service,

philanthropic organizations and the public to come to

the aid of the school. Mr Martin Adu Twum, a specially trained teacher for

the Unit said the children would be trained to acquire

special skills to enable them to fend for themselves

instead of resorting to begging.