Analysis of barriers to children with mobility impairment in basic education in Accra Metropolis
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Date
2015-04-23
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Abstract
Despite the provisions made in the 1992 Constitution on the rights of disabled persons and
the passage of the Persons with Disability Act 715 by the Parliament of Ghana in 2006, little
has been done to enhance access to basic education for people with disabilities. The
expectation was that, existing basic educational facilities would be retrofitted and made
physically accessible to the disabled in order to create equal opportunities for pupils living
with disabilities.
This research uses descriptive-exploratory design to investigate the level of accessibility of
the educational facilities at the basic schools in Accra. Surveys were conducted with relevant
institutions with the use of interview guides. In all thirty -three pupils in twenty-two schools
were surveyed and ten disabled drop-out children were surveyed as well. Fifty facilities
within ten schools, one from each sub-metro were later audited using international standards,
building codes, regulations and guidelines as benchmarks for assessments.
The research revealed that despite the progress made with the help of philanthropist
organisations and Parent Teacher‟s Association (PTA), most basic schools pupils with
mobility impairment still encountered barriers such as discrimination, steps, narrow doorways
and desk space, lack of seats for wheelchair users, lack of space for manoeuvring, open
gutters and slippery floors. The audit showed that ramps constructed in many schools did not
meet the minimum international standards. These findings point to the need for an extensive
civic education for the general public on disability issues and funding to retrofit public
buildings. Also, it is recommended that at least one entrance per facility should be accessible
to PWDs by school authorities in Accra. The Ministry of Education should revise the teacher
training materials to reflect inclusive education methods and adequate information on
children with disabilities. The government should increase expenditure and budget allocation
on inclusive education in Accra.
Description
A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science in Development
Planning and Management