Traditional beliefs and knowledge base about epilepsy among university students in Ghana. Our analytical tools, social model of disability and the SDGs goal 4 were synergistic, which allowed for comparative analysis. 6. Disability and health: Fact sheet. 171, 434445. Accra: Sakoa Press Ltd, Accra, Ghana. The case study as a serious research strategy. Also, emphasis was place more on the classroom environment, which is good. Clean. Stay up to date on all the latest from Hey Teach: Get periodic emails that include exclusive content, special guides, and other great resources you wont find anywhere else! A large number of pupils struggle to meet the proficiency cut-off point for English and Mathematics between grades four and six. J. Res. These misconceptions resulted in perceptions of stigma and discrimination towards people who may get Ebola or work with Ebola patients. Curriculum in 2018, was written to reform education and the school curriculum. To achieve inclusive education, it is imperative that conscientious efforts are made to ensure that disability is mainstream, alongside other vulnerability/diversity variables, such as gender. London: Macmillan. Ministry of Education. Barnes, C. (1991). The Equality Act 2010 and the Social Model of Disability. This research sought to investigate teachers' experiences with overcrowded classrooms: the case of new Gbawe experimental 1 basic school in Ghana's Greater Accra region. London: UPIAS. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Guardian, Scholastic, Inc., the College Board, the Center for Teaching Quality, and Education Week. Ghana 2012 human rights report. If your head doesn't explode upon hearing this comment, take the time to explain the endless lesson planning and grading teachers do after school, at home, and on the weekends. The policy emphasizes that the curriculum should stress three key principles: Setting suitable learning targets, responding to pupils diverse needs, and overcoming barriers to learning for individuals and groups of pupils. One common belief about teachers is that we never work during the summer. doi: 10.1080/03050060902920534. Therefore, it is very important to assess how student teachers at the Colleges of Education in Ghana are integrating inclusive education consistent with SDG 4. It could be an ice breaker or other warming up exercises that could exclude learners with disabilities. Una mirada desde la funcin de investigacin. Although the various studies by Dodor et . Misconceptions are often deeply held, largely unexplained, and sometimes strongly defended. 45, 175195. One of the key roles of the HLSC is to ensure the systematic alignment of approaches for education-related targets within the wider United Nations SDG structure. 6, 18. So, when they go out, they will observe the teacher to see if they are exhibiting these qualities. We use a case study design when the researcher seeks to answer the how and why Questions and could be exploratory, descriptive, or explanatory (Yin, 1994). Bentzen, L. (2015). Although this is a good attempt, it does not adequately address the end goal of being an inclusive teacher. Persons with disabilities continue to lag in education, which affects their employment and income and overall well-being. See Appendix A for details of the interview guide. We, therefore, recommend the need for student teachers to be grounded in disability issues in order to understand learners with diverse disabilities, their unique needs and how best they could help them. Leeds: Disability Press. United Nations [UN]. - Equip teachers with good communication skills. For educators, it is crucial to not only understand what the metaverse is and its uses within education but to also realize the benefits of immersive learning with the metaverse. The education of students with disabilities is affected by attitudinal, pedagogical, institutional, informational, and environmental accessibility barriers (World Health Organization, 2011; Nakua et al., 2017; Braun and Naami, 2021). It further states that all children have the right to access basic education and that the education system should be dynamic to adapt to the needs of children. Ghana, our work on SDGs in Ghana. Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation [UPIAS] (1976). curriculum tasks student teachers to Identify school and student characteristics that act as barriers to learning. However, this statement is problematic as it is a wrong premise to understand barriers to learning for learners with disabilities. Available at: https://www.ntu.eu/news-archive/the-importance-of-the-sustainable-development-goals/ (Accessed May 3, 2022). The GCM is a global tool for education and a global multi-stakeholder mechanism for education in the 2030 Agenda, with the governance mechanism for the GCM, being the High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC) that is mandated to take strategic decisions and action for education (20222023 members). But unless they live with, or are close friends with, a teacher, it might be challenging to change their minds. Assuming there is a learner with a mobility disability who uses a wheelchair in a school, will his/her characteristic of having an impairment be considered the barrier or some known access barriers such as storey building without elevators and staircase without accessible ramps? Maybe a better phrase is, Those who teach create those who do. Michael Jay, One of my favorites is, Those who cant, teach. Teachers must be well educated in their field of study, of course,but that is only the beginning. This assertion is also emphasized in Article 24 of the CRPD. She is the 2013 recipient of the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award and the 2013 Boston Red Sox Most Valuable Educator Award. This has the potential of influencing the learning experience of such students in the classroom. Chaturvedi, S. (2021). doi: 10.1016/S0031-9406(10)62916-1. The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2023.1056630/full#supplementary-material, Adams, R., Martin, S., and Boom, K. (2018). 8:1056630. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2023.1056630. Your source for IT solutions and innovations to support school-wide success. Naami, A. (2018b). "Teacher Tenure Means Teachers Can't Be Fired", In 2016, I was outraged when a politician made an untrue statement about teacher tenure, so I turned to Facebook to express my anger. Republic of Ghana (2019). Assoc. Instruction has always been the decision of what to teach (curriculum) and how to teach (methods, materials, and activities). (2017). Received: 29 September 2022; Accepted: 16 January 2023; Published: 23 February 2023. doi: 10.54674/ess.v32i2.288. on the eve of Ghana's independence and charged with the "dissemination of truthful unbiased news". All Rights Reserved. (2003). The school and its environment must be safe and accessible for all learners. Adera, B. Education has long been recognized as a global priority. Also, the B.Ed. Once you find one, you do your possible best to know the causes of the disability or how the person is being helped throughout his or her stay in the schoolWe specifically ask them to identify a child with the disability and even how the facilities and resources in the school support the child. For persons with disabilities, self-awareness is even more important given the socio-cultural and religious beliefs and practices that marginalize and discriminate against them and the resultant negative attitudes, stigma, discrimination, and exclusion and of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life (Kassah et al., 2012; Adjei et al., 2013; Dugbartey and Barimah, 2013; Naami, 2019). (2006) observed that most of pre-service teachers had misconceptions about photosynthesis and respiration in plants. However, disability is not mentioned in the four learning outcomes of the equity and inclusivity of the cross-cutting pillar and their targets. Published by the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike International. In their observation checklist, it is important that the students also identify whether what they identify are accessible to all learners particularly, persons with disabilities. All these barriers could inhibit access of persons with disabilities in the school and impact on their learning. April 26, 2023. Although the 2021 Ghana Population and Housing Census reports, that persons with disabilities in Ghana constitute about 8% (2,098,138) of the countrys population of 30,832,019 (Ghana Statistical Service, 2012), other reports show otherwise. We evaluated the four learning outcomes under the equity and inclusivity of the cross-cutting pillar. The critical question is what to teach. CBR Inclus. in Behavioral Science, a Masters in Education, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Education Leadership. These points provided below are responses and comments that were duly and diligently gathered through surveys and seminars in an attempt to provide some possible ways of raising teaching standards to an appreciable level in the country. We asked our key informant about how they teach students to self-reflect. In 2015, a policy on inclusive education was developed and adopted by the country toward fulfilling the aspirations of the 1992 constitution, which guarantees education as a fundamental human right. She holds a B.A. According to Yin (1981), p. 98, the decision to utilize a case study arises when an empirical inquiry must examine a contemporary phenomenon in its real-life context especially when the boundaries between phenomenon and context are not clearly evident. By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations. The SDGs 4 set out to achieve inclusion and equality in education whilst the social model of disability provides us with the opportunity to identify barriers to inclusion and how to address them. Educ. Available at: https://mofep.gov.gh/sites/default/files/news/Ghana-SDGs-Budget-Report-July-2019.pdf. Ghana Statistical Service. Teachers Standards for Ghana: Guidelines. The outcome of the conference called for students with disabilities to be educated within an inclusive education system. Weekly on Wednesday. Attitudes and Disabled People. We met to discuss and merged emerging codes and themes and subthemes. As noted by Calles (2020) the process of truly integrating the SDGs in tertiary institutions is sine qua non. J. In this paper, we have examined the preparedness of student teachers in Colleges of Education in Ghana in respect of the curriculum being delivered toward achieving inclusive education. The study explicitly followed a qualitative approach to research specifically a case study design. Conclusion We conclude that although knowledge and awareness about Ebola is high among Ghanaians who participated in the study, there are still misconceptions about the disease. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. But now, the University for Development Studies (UDS) and the University of Ghana, and other private universities have programs in teacher education (Newman, 2013; Ministry of Education, 2018a). Produc. We established that the curriculum and auxiliary teaching materials do not adequately address leaners with disabilities and their needs. The social model stresses the removal of barriers to foster the inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream society (Shakespeare and Watson, 2010; Naami, 2014). As someone who has supported many people into work, both as a recruiter and an employment specialist, I am here to tell you that you absolutely can teach! 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Attitudinal barriers are cited as major barriers to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of life in Ghana (Kassah et al., 2012; Adjei et al., 2013; Dugbartey and Barimah, 2013; Naami, 2014). High. READ MORE Welcome to the Ministry of Education The Government of Ghana initiated some key education reforms to transform teaching and learning and improve educational outcomes under the Education Strategic Plan (ESP 2018-2030) which was approved by cabinet in November 2018. (2019). Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com. J. Disabil. This paper is framed on a case study methodology within the context of utilizing the social model of disability to examine the curricula of Colleges of Education in Ghana by investigating whether the student teacher is prepared enough to promote inclusive education. So, we probed further and the narrative was: Yes, for example, so when you go to the school, we want you to try and see if you can find a child with special needs. Finkelstein, V. (1988). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Vol 5. Dis. International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: Children & Youth Version: ICF-CY. Colleges of Education are the settings where teachers are trained to develop required skills for effective inclusive education. Shakespeare, T., and Watson, N. (2010). In 2012, Burnett and Felsman (2012) signaled the debate on post Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and pointed out the need to incorporate the SDGs in education, particularly in educational institutions. Your source for IT solutions and innovations to support school-wide success. London: University World News, The Global Window on Higher Education. For example, ICF combines both the social and the medical models of disability. 25, 2139. The HLSC therefore engages with the wider United Nations SDG structure at global and regional levels (Chaturvedi, 2021). Certification helps to build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers and government tech initiatives. Soc. Dev. University surroundings and infrastructures that are accessible and inclusive for all: listening to students with disabilities. Every child has a right to access quality education and acquire skills UNICEF/UN362021/ACQUAH South and South-West Asia Development Papers, 2101. Clean. As the quality assurance officer of this particular institution, these are some of the questions I ask my coordinators. A Togo slippery frog rests in grass. The teacher in the observation checklist can indicate that he/she is an inclusive teacher but prejudices and discrimination against persons with disabilities could cloud their self-consciousness about persons with disabilities. The policy defines inclusion in its broadest sense as ensuring access and learning for all children: especially those disadvantaged from linguistic, ethnic, gender, geographic or religious minority, from an economically impoverished background as well as children with special needs including those with disabilities. According to the Colleges of Education Act of 2012, Act 847, the process of preparing teachers in Ghana to teach at the basic school level takes place at the College of Education (CoE). World Health Organization. Presently, there are 48 Colleges of Education (CoE) in Ghana, up from 38 in 2014 ( Buabeng et al., 2019) and in the 2018/2019 academic year, all Colleges of . The Social Model of Disability was proposed by advocates of the Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) in 1976 (Shakespeare and Watson, 2010) which was later given credence to the works of scholars such as Oliver (1990), Oliver and Barnes (1998), Finkelstein (1980, 1988), Barnes (1991), and Shakespeare and Watson (2010). Similarly, it is common for teachers to use illustrative examples on the board or PowerPoint slides and ask students to see even though they have students with visual impairments. Int. J. Int. United Nations Communications Groups [UNCG] (2017). In addition, alternative assessment procedures are seriously encouraged in all educational institutions to respond to the diverse needs of all learners. Revisiting free compulsory universal basic education (FCUBE) in Ghana. The National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework (NTECF) sets out the four pillars and cross-cutting issues for the initial training of all teachers at the pre-tertiary level (Ministry of Education National, 2017). Examples of the disabling environment are societal structures, values, culture, environmental constructs (Geffen, 2013), inadequate access to healthcare, transportation, physical and institutional barriers (Barnes and Mercer, 2005; Naami, 2014). Akyeampong, K. (2009). In many districts, teachers elect to have their salary divided over a 52-week period so they still have money coming in over the summer. The requirements for a qualified teacher include all of the skills needed for the 21st-century workplace. Mary Montag, teacher, St. Teresas Academy. The ICF helps our understanding of the functioning of people with different disorders and their level of participation in activities as well as how contextual factors could facilitate or impact negatively on functioning. The observation checklist and reflective journals do not make enough room for student teachers to self-reflect on disability, which could be a barrier to the education of persons with various forms of disabilities. Fontdevila, C., and Grek, S. (2020). (2015). The curriculum of the Colleges of Education in Ghana emphasis on the need for student teachers to reflect on their own beliefs and biases to enhance acceptance and conscientious efforts toward accommodating learners with disabilities to increase their inclusion. Copyright 2023 eSchoolMedia & eSchool News. Using the curriculum to promote inclusive education? To deny or not to deny disability. If you're a teacheror if you've even thought about being a teacheryou've probably heard a few of these common misconceptions about teaching. Wheelchair accessibility to public buildings in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. At the end senior high school (12th grade) students get to attend universities and other tertiary education institutions. Common misconceptions of Africa are explored in the second lesson, through a range of activities which again highlight the wide diversity of opportunities, challenges and life styles. Policies, targets, and strategies Education Strategic Plan 20032015 May. (2012). Available at: https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/204336.pdf (Accessed May 10, 2022). Feel free to quote Diane Ravitch, one of the most respected voices in education, who notes that unions protect teachers' rights, support professionalism, and check administrative power. J. Curr. I created a meme about the misconception, and almost immediately, a former classmate of mine wrote, "It also makes it almost impossible to get rid of bad teachers.". School of Education, Western Sydney University, Australia, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norway. Available at: http://UNCT-GH-SDGs-in-Ghana-Avocacy-Messages-2017%20(5).pdf (Accessed August 4, 2022). Beyond 2015, within the modern/colonial global imaginary? Applying the SDGs Goal 4 as an analytical tool inclusion and equality issues in the training of student teachers. Plenty of studies conclude that higher teacher pay leads to better teacher quality, which leads to improved student performance. Ghana is no exception. Howard, H. A., and Rhule, A. How do learners with visual and hearing impairment benefit from these forms of learning if resources do not have features of alternative formats (subtitles/captions, narrations) for these learners? Daily Monday-Friday. World Health Organization. The National Teacher Education Curriculum Framework, (NTECF): The Essential Elements of Initial Teacher Education. They are supposed to identify school facilities (e.g., football field, toilet, office space, tennis court, buildings etc. Dugbartey, A. T., and Barimah, K. B. Two forms, student reflective journal and daily portfolio sheet comprise of the portfolio, which is usually returned to their tutors for grading. Examples of how anthropomorphism is misleading. 9711 Washingtonian Boulevard, Suite 550, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 | 1-301-913-0115, By submitting your information, you agree to our, DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Access), Video of the Week: Dealing with digital distraction in the classroom, Secrets from the library lines: 5 ways schools can boost digital engagement, Follow the Money Insights from K-12 Experts, Creating a winning K12 esports infrastructure, Charter Communications (Spectrum Enterprise). ), can be reviewed. A. Wulff (Leiden: Brill), 96115. World Health Organization. Available at: http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/report.pdf (Accessed June 17, 2017). Ironically, the final question suggests the above reflections would have been helpful to increase disability sensitivity and inclusion. In this paper, we use the social model of disability, anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, to examine the preparedness of student teachers in meeting the needs of learners with diverse learning needs. UNESCO organizes the Global Education Meetings in partnership with all global education actors toward achieving SDG 4 (Fontdevila and Grek, 2020). The student teacher in the first week of the supported teacher school placement are required to reflect on the school environment. The SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (United Nations [UN], 2015). In in view of the above, there has been a rising awareness and activism for the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular mainstream classrooms, but the reality in many underdeveloped nations including Ghana is still a gloomy picture (Adera and Asimeng-Boahene, 2011). The proponents of the Social Model of Disability acknowledge that impairment could pose a limit to the functioning of persons with disabilities. Stud. (2014). Incl. New York: World Rehabilitation Fund. doi: 10.1080/1034912X.2019.1651833, Buabeng, I., Ntow, F. D., and Otami, C. D. (2019). The interview with the key informant was done in English, conducted in the participants office, and lasted for an hour. I wrote an entire paragraph to which my former classmate responded: "We can agree to disagree." It is worth mentioning that the student observation checklist listed a section on students with special needs. The first 9years constitute basic education and are free and compulsory. Inclusion in the policy sets out to create an education system that is responsive to learner diversity and to ensure that all learners have the best possible opportunities to learn. A case study design is a qualitative research approach which focuses on a detailed exploration of a phenomenon within its content. In fact, the entire Colleges of Education in Ghana curriculum seems to focus on students with learning difficulties. J. Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed. One of the major features of the policy is that it adheres to universal design for learning. A., and Asimeng-Boahene, L. (2011). Teachers in the U.S. do make far less than similarly educated professionals. doi: 10.1080/09687599.2012.673079. It is noteworthy that disability is listed on the observation checklist and reflective journals of student teachers as part of their preparedness on the equity and inclusivity outcome. Prod. How to Respond to the 6 Biggest Misconceptions About Teaching by Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed. So, its good that you are bringing some of these things out. Initially, myths were largely on causes and vulnerability. Here are 10 misconceptions about teachers and teaching that emerged from readers (responses edited for brevity): The one misconception I would like to clarify is around the phrase, Those who can cannot do, teach. While many educators are active contributors to the particular area in which they have domain expertise (i.e. Previously, the University of Cape Coast and University of Education, Winneba, had the traditional mandate to prepare teachers to teach at various educational levels including the basic school level (Buabeng et al., 2019). Stressful school atmosphere, teachers' lack of knowledge and bad attitude towards work can equally hinder the reading process at this level. But the section seems to relate more to learners with learning difficulties. The SDGs target 4.8 outlines the need to build and upgrade educational facilities that are disability sensitive. Naami, A. Unstructured questionnaires and Teacher observations were utilised in the process of generating the data. Central Region of Ghana. Further reading: 10 Tips and Truths of Living with a Teacher, 2. In a similar vein, the Government of Ghana has identified several factors that prevent persons with disabilities from attending school, including the general publics negative perception of people with disabilities, physical obstacles, the lack of adequate facilities for assessments, and a rigid curriculum, inadequate planning by regular teachers for students with special needs (Government of Ghana, 2003). (1994). UNESCOs formulation of the Global Education Cooperation Mechanism (GCM) is at the heart of the interconnectedness and intersectional efforts on SDG 4. As part of the global communitys efforts to address social problems collectively, post the Millennium Development Goals era, the Sustainable Development Goals were birthed in 2015 (United Nations [UN], 2015). eSchool News uses cookies to improve your experience. (2021). true, instead, the Vocationalization of Ghana's education will put money into people's pockets (Anamuah-Mensah, 2004). Awareness of oneself is vital to bracketing biases and prejudices against vulnerable populations, including persons with disabilities. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a comprehensive framework to describe health and health-related issues including disability. In year two, the student teachers are required by the curriculum to imbibe knowledge on values and attitudes that has the potential of impacting learning. Disclaimer|Privacy Policy|Contact Us|About. There are so many more misconceptions about teaching that I could easily write a Part II to this article. 23, 15. Fundamental Principles of Disability. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The importance of the SDGs. The principle of universal design in the policy offers learners multiple means of representation, expression, engagement, motivation and tapping into learners interest. The perils and promises of inclusive education in Ghana. Machado, C., and Davim, J. P. (2022). GhanaS free senior high school policy: evidence and insight from data. However, they posit that persons with disabilities are disabled more by their environment and other processes than their perceived impairments (Union of the Physically Impaired Against Segregation [UPIAS], 1976). The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
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