Forty teachers drawn from Birim South District on Monday began a six-week trainer of trainee workshop on Special Education Needs at Akyem Oda. The workshop being organized by Special Education Division of Ghana Education Service (GES) was aimed at building capacity for the implementation of inclusive education, to de-mystify special education and change the negative attitudes of society towards individuals with disabilities and other special needs. Participants were expected to acquire in-depth knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for inclusive education, identify categories of children with disabilities and other special needs and offer the needed support as well as demonstrate the ability to organize in-service training for teachers in Special Education Needs. Mr Robert Harrison Akyea, Deputy Director, Special Education Division, in a speech read on his behalf, said the workshop had been necessitated as a result of the implementation of the Education Strategic Plan from 2003-2015 developed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to provide guidance to education delivery in the country until 2015. He said the plan emphasized on the provision of an effective system of education for all children in the country regardless of their differences in all spheres of their lives. Mr Akyea said the plan in addition, advocated for Inclusive Education, which would provide an effective platform for the effective education for individuals with disabilities and those with special education needs. Mr Peter K. Adu, Birim South District Special Education Officer urged the participants to take the workshop seriously to enable them to be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills that would enhance an effective Inclusion Education system in the district. He appealed to them to assist in changing negative attitude of society towards children with disabilities. Mrs Stella K. Nanor, Birim South District Director of Education, said with the introduction of the new education reform it was expected that all children would be in school and therefore urged teachers to ensure that all pupils were treated equally. Mr Frank Kwame Busumtwi, Birim South District Chief Executive stressed the importance of special education and said any child with a disability should not be disqualified from being in school. Inclusive education refers to school centres of learning and educational systems that are open to all children. Source: GNA