Municipal Assembly, NGO to Construct Fence Wall for Kpando Community Inclusive Special School

 

The Kpando Municipal Assembly and the Frank Foley Educational Support Fund (FFESF), a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) have at a joint ceremony, cut sod for the construction of a fence wall for the Kpando Community Special School at Kpando- Abanu in the Volta region.

The move follows the presentation of forty (40) bags of cement by the Kpando Municipal Assembly to the school, towards the realization of this objective.

Stakeholders, individuals and invited guests present at the event also made various instant donations and pledges of cement and cash towards the initiative.

The Kpando Community Inclusive Special School was established in the early 90s, and is believed to be the least resourced of all the segregated special schools in the country in terms of infrastructure.

The most pressing need of the school amongst its tall infrastructural deficit is a fence wall, the absence of which resulted in the missing of two of the learners of the school some years ago, with another one also getting drowned in the Volta Lake.

Speaking at the event, Mr Geoffrey Badasu the Municipal Chief Executive for Kpando, lauded the staff of the school and the Kpando- Abanu community for their sacrifices towards the upbringing of the learners at the school, adding that “the Good Lord is the only one that can reward you for your love and care for these unfortunate children.”

Mr Badasu reiterated government’s commitment to supporting the school and gave the assurance that the Assembly would continue to assist in any way possible to better the lives of the learners.

The MCE reminded all those who had pledged to support the project or the school in one way or the other to redeem such pledges – “it is a serious business to want to support such a venture. It is better not to pledge to support these young ones than to do so and dishonour such a pledge,” he said.

Mr Frank Foley, founder and Executive Director of FFESF, who is also manager of Heritage FM, a local radio station in Hohoe, noted that the role of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the overall development of the country cannot be over-emphasized.

He said the decision by his organization to collaborate with the Kpando Municipal Assembly and other stakeholders, was borne out of the sad plight of the learners at the school.

Mr. Foley bemoaned the lack of inclusion and discrimination against PWDs, including persistent exclusion from development programmes and funds, employment, health services, economic empowerment programmes as well as transport services, and called for a change in the status quo.

He called on Ghanaians to show more love and positive attitudes towards PWDs, adding that “though they are unfortunate citizens of the country, their situation also has good sides for the country.”

Mr. Foley mentioned the renovation of the Hohoe Municipal Library in 2016, the construction of the Female and Juvenile Holding Centres (Cell) at Hohoe, roofing of the Hohoe R. C. Boys’ School as well as the donation of food items, provisions and toiletries to the three special schools in Hohoe between 2019 and 2022, as some of the successes chalked since the inception of the Fund, some ten years ago.

Madam Hilda Amegat cher, the Kpando Municipal Director of Education, said, every child has the right to the same opportunities as others, regardless of the difficulties they face.

She said, children with special needs, like autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, behaviour and emotional disorders, among others, can participate in instruction and school life to a great extent when given the chance to do so.

Madam Amegatcher lauded the Assembly and the NGO for the initiative saying, ” it will go a long way to enables the children acquire knowledge in line with their unique needs and abilities with the help of Special Educators and well-equipped classrooms.”

She said “these kind gestures and supports has a great value for the society as a whole, because children with special needs get the opportunity to be accepted into the community which helps them to become more independent and happier, surrounded by people who understand their needs and support them at every step of the way.”

Mr Michael Alayi, headmaster of the Kpando Community Inclusive Special School, lamented the huge infrastructural deficit of the school.

He mentioned lack of boys and girls’ dormitories, an administration block, headmaster and teachers’ bungalows, classrooms, vocational training centers as well as a kitchen and dining hall complex, as the major challenges facing the school.

He appealed to individuals, NGOs and other benevolent organizations across the country to come to the aid of the school in helping address these challenges going forward.

The Kpando Community Inclusive Special School was established in the early 90s and later absorbed into the public school system in the early part of the year 2000.

The School currently has a staff strength of 23, made up of 9 teaching and 14 non-teaching, and a learner population of 73.

Out of the 73, only about 45 learners on average report to school each term.

The school operates from a 6 unit classroom block. 2 rooms are for classes, 2 for dormitories for male and female learners, 1 for house mothers, 1 shared by the headmaster, accountant and the general administrative staff, with the last one shared by the Storekeeper and the Kitchen Staff.

By Leo Nelson