The Ghana Blind Teachers Association (GBTA) on Wednesday commended government for the establishment of the Disability Council, and asked the body to ensure the speedy implementation of the provisions in the Disability Act.
This was contained in a 21-point resolution adopted by members at its fourth Biennial National delegates' conference, in September last year, on the theme: "The New Educational Reforms ICT Driven - The Place of the Blind Teacher."
In the resolution addressed to the President and copied to the Ghana News Agency, the association asked government to lift the ban on the appointment of Craft Instructors to pave way for craft instructors to get employment.
That government should implement the post Junior High School and Senior High School vocational and technical programme for special schools and to consider excluding pupils in basic special schools from paying examinations fees, since majority of them are from poor background or sometimes without parents or guardians.
That, to enhance the quality of teaching and education of Blind Teachers, "we call on Government through the Ministry of Education to consider the inclusion of Blind Teachers in the national programme of in-service training, workshops and seminars, to enable them to be abreast of modern trends.
That, the Association proposes the inclusion of blind students in the integrated teacher training colleges in the scholarship scheme, since the training colleges have been upgraded to tertiary status. This will enable them to get something substantial to buy the costly teaching and learning materials".
The association entreated the government to impress upon the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs and the Ghana National Commission on Children, to factor into their policies the issues of women and children with disability since they were not covered.
That, the yearly Christmas party organised for children by the Head of State, should include blind children.
It pleaded with government to work out the disability allowance on percentile basis and to be reflected on members pay slips and recommended that the Social Security and National Insurance Trust should establish a system at the Pension offices nationwide, to enable members to secure their entitlements in time.
The Association petitioned Government to make the blind to retire at 65 years on his/her full salary because they generally start work late in life.
Government should make the Employers Association especially the private sector to employ skilled blind persons.
The resolution requested Government to exclude the unemployed blind persons from paying the health insurance levy.
The GBTA is a fraternal organisation of blind teachers, non-political, non-profit making and inter-denominational dedicated solely to serving the needs and aspirations of blind teachers of all categories.