Teachers trained to deal with challenging behaviour of pupils

Some teachers in the Kasoa Municipality have been trained to deal effectively with challenging behaviours of pupils in the classroom

The more than 100 teachers were taken through topics that would enable them to improve the quality of life and inclusion of pupils with challenging behaviours.

Mr Padmore Quansah, Executive Director of the Campaign for Learning Disabilities, organisers of the workshop told the Ghana News Agency that some teachers get frustrated by challenging behaviours by children with special needs

“There is the need to help teachers understand the issues, especially children with special needs to enable them teach effectively in an inclusive environment.

Mrs Jane Toure, Specialist Occupational Therapist, who took the teachers through “Positive Behavioural Support”, said many challenging behaviours among pupils are linked to social learning and communication.

“Some children for instance may need help to learn skills for communications,” she said and explained to the teachers that understanding an individual’s challenging behaviour would enhance tolerance and coping.

Mrs Toure said if teachers understand challenging behaviours especially from special needs children it could lead to effective ways of providing support.

“Instead of punishing challenging behaviours, we need to find out why the behaviour,” she said.

Mrs Toure said knowledge about such behaviours could help find the way forward.

The teachers selected from pre-schools and basic schools in Kasoa were also taken through Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, by Mrs Florence Akua Mensah from the Department of Special Education, University of Education, Winneba.