Yumba School for mentally retarded children inaugurated

Wamale, (N/R), Dec. 13, GNA - Mr. Benjamin Debrah, Managing Director of Barclays-Ghana, inaugurated the Yumba Special School for mentally retarded children, at Wamale in the Northern Region on Friday. He said the Bank supported the project with funds as part of its efforts towards the promotion of the education of mentally retarded children.

Mr. Debrah said the Bank was committed to developing education, health and sanitation, eradication of guinea worm and the provision of social amenities.

Mr. Robert Danso, Chairman of Society of Friends of Mentally Handicapped Children (NSFMHC), which initiated the GHc 94.880 project, said the association was committed to promoting the education of children who were not part of the traditional school system. He said NSFMHC has established special schools for mentally retarded children in the southern part of Ghana and in 1999 decided to direct its attention to the northern sector of the country. Mr Danso commended the Agricultural Development Bank for donating a polytank for storage of water to the school. Mrs. Georgina Norga, Headmistress of the Yumba Special School, urged policy makers in education to pay particular attention to education for mentally retarded children. She appealed to individuals and organisations to assist the school to acquire boarding facilities, teaching and learning materials, security and to stop encroachment of the school land. Mrs. Norga commended the Regional Advisory Information and Network systems (RAINS) and Hope for Children, both non-governmental organisations (NGOs), for supporting the school with a bus, toilet and washroom facilities.

Alhaji Yakubu Ibrahimah, Deputy Tamale Metropolitan Director of Education, called on stakeholders to assist government to improve education.

He said that "the Education system will not be meaningful if proper structures are not put in place to take care of children with special needs". 13 Dec. 08