United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization [UNESCO]. A large number of pupils struggle to meet the proficiency cut-off point for English and Mathematics between grades four and six. Industrial Attachment: Perspectives, Conceptions and Misconceptions of The B.Ed. 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. Available at: https://mofep.gov.gh/sites/default/files/news/Ghana-SDGs-Budget-Report-July-2019.pdf. doi: 10.4102/ajod.v6i0.341. Misconceptions about GMOs in Ghana due to weak education, study reveals. Dis. 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 . Front. J. Curr. One common belief about teachers is that we never work during the summer. The school environment, the classroom, lessons, class management and assessment are all limited regarding inclusivity of learners with disabilities. It can deliver greater immersive learning for students while also creating some new and exciting teaching opportunities. The Curriculum College of Education in Ghana also recognizes effective class management as sine qua non for classroom participation. The barriers also do not allow of first-hand experiences of inclusive education. Education has long been recognized as a global priority. Republic of Ghana (2019). Next-Generation Data Strategies and Solutions, The Technology Tools, Skills, and Support Every Student Needs to Succeed, Strategies for Creating a Successful Collaborative Learning Environment, Virtual or In-Person, Do more with less with managed services for K12, The Earth Prize 2023 Winners Announcement, Latest Enhancements to Discovery Education Services Drive Deeper Student Engagement, KidWind and Toyota Join Forces to Bring Renewable Energy Education to West Virginia, ISTE and Capstone Collaborate on Childrens Books Championing Digital Citizenship, Ohio Department of Education Names Curriculum Associates i-Ready Assessment an Approved Dyslexia Screener for Grades K3, 6 benefits of immersive learning with the metaverse, Building a Successful Certification Program at Your Institution. So, when they go out, they will observe the teacher to see if they are exhibiting these qualities. (1994). In Ghana, a considerable milestone has been the integration of the SDGs into the medium-term development of Ghana. Clearly, some people will hold onto their mistaken views no matter how much evidence you present them. Edulearn19 Proc. Global pressing problems and the sustainable development goals. Agyire-Tettey, E. E., Naami, A., Wissenbach, L., and Schdler, J. 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). Rather, impairment should be considered to enable provision of suitable accommodation for learners with disabilities. Dev. Also, the condition was perceived to cause severe disease. Available at: http://UNCT-GH-SDGs-in-Ghana-Avocacy-Messages-2017%20(5).pdf (Accessed August 4, 2022). The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a comprehensive framework to describe health and health-related issues including disability. Policies, targets, and strategies Education Strategic Plan 20032015 May. Stein, S., de Oliveira Andreotti, V., and Sua, R. (2019). Your source for IT solutions and innovations to support school-wide success. The promises and limitations of the SDG framework for inclusive education and students with disabilities in Grading Goal Four. (2019). In 1994, UNESCO organized a World Conference on Special Needs Education in Salamanca, Spain (United Nations Educational, Scientific and cultural organization [UNESCO], 1994). Barrett, P., Treves, A., Shmis, T., and Ambasz, D. (2019). National Teachers Standards Guidelines for Ghana: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike. World Health Organization. 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. My students have gone on to become doctors, nurses, legislators, activists, business owners, musicians, social workers, and yesteachers. Breaking the barriers: Ghanaians perspectives about the social model. All Rights Reserved. Available at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf (Accessed July 29, 2022). Fontdevila, C., and Grek, S. (2020). There were storey buildings with no elevators, most of the entrances to the buildings were inhibited with steps and not ramps. I can't attend a single event without one or two of these comments popping up. Tertiary institutions such as universities, Colleges of Education and nursing training institutions have been recognized as drivers toward achieving the SDGs particularly, SDG 4, considering the formative roles they play in molding the future of young people in countries (Machado and Davim, 2022). (2018). Oliver, M. (1990). 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. 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! Given that persons with disabilities have been marginalized in all spheres of life, including their families and caregivers (Naami, 2019), conscientious efforts must be made to ensure that persons with disabilities/organizations of persons with disabilities or individuals/organizations that have the capacity to represent them are at the decision-making table to ensure that their needs are adequately addressed (Agyire-Tettey et al., 2019). The case study as a serious research strategy. "Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action: Towards Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education and Lifelong Learning for All, UNICEF. (2021). How anthropomorphism hinders AI education - Raspberry Pi Foundation These include talking, and chalking, marking . GhanaS free senior high school policy: evidence and insight from data. It could be an ice breaker or other warming up exercises that could exclude learners with disabilities. Educ. 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. The Togo slippery frog was thought to be extinct. 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 inclusive education policy acknowledges that: all children can learn irrespective of differences in age, gender, ethnicity, language, and disability. However, we think it's more accurate . 1. 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. Corruption - African leaders are generally perceived to be corrupt. The 2012 Human Rights Watch report indicates that over 5 million persons with disabilities live in Ghana (United States Department of States, 2017). Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ghana: The truths beyond the World report on disability online. The author concluded that concept-changing texts were efficient in comprehension of photosynthesis and Dev. Myths and misconceptions about tuberculosis transmission in Ghana The government has found the SDGs to align with the current national vision of Ghana Beyond Aid, a long-term economic and social transformation strategy for national development (Republic of Ghana, 2019). I was shocked that my Facebook friend didn't understand teacher tenure either, so I posted its legal definition. In all one hundred and seventy-one (171) students participated in the study. 3. doi: 10.21083/ajote.v3i2.2728. April 26, 2023. (2013). 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. The B.Ed. 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. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.07.034, PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar. Harlow: Longman. Stay up-to-date with the latest edtech tools, trends, and best practices for classroom, school and district success. Fundamental Principles of Disability. Target 4.a calls for the upgrading of educational facilities so that they are child-and disability-sensitive and to promote inclusive learning environments (United Nations [UN], 2015). It is worth mentioning that the student observation checklist listed a section on students with special needs. United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], (2021). Moria, A., and Morgado, B. Unlike gender which was given much attention and detailed reflection in the Colleges of Education curriculum. 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). For example, in math, when you are teaching math, you will let them know that these and that are some of the misconceptions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, Keywords: Ghana, inclusive education, persons with disabilities, student teacher, teacher preparedness, Citation: Naami A and Mort KS-T (2023) Inclusive education in Ghana: How prepared are the teachers? The Global Education Meeting therefore involves joint platforms and initiatives developed by those global education actors in pursuit of SDG 4. But here's what teachers do make: a difference in the world. *Correspondence: Augustina Naami, anaami@ug.edu.gh, Transforming Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan African Countries Towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 by 2030: New Opportunities, Challenges, Problems and Prospects, View all 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). Burnett, N., and Felsman, C. (2012). The upgrading of teacher training institutions to colleges of education: Issues and prospects. To deny or not to deny disability. 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. - Equip teachers with good communication skills. 1. Western Governors University WGU. But the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) program was introduced in 1995 as part of efforts to fulfill UNESCOs mission of free universal education for all by 2015 (Akyeampong, 2009). Common Misconceptions About Teachers - Business Insider Without the commitment and involvement of tertiary institutions and in the case of training institutions such as Colleges of Education, perhaps the SDGs 4 may not be sustainably attained. 10 Tips and Truths of Living with a Teacher, A Chance to Build Meaningful Relationships with Students, Engaging Students during the Long Winter Months, 5 REALISTIC Ways for Teachers to Get Healthier This Year. The former Editorial Director for both eSchool News and eCampus News, and was formerly the Managing Editor of eCampus News. Each period lasts 45 minutes and each grade is expected to receive an average of 45 periods of instruction a week covering all subjects (nine periods a day for all subjects). ed. 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. Beliefs on epilepsy in Northern Ghana. This view has gained currency among several scholars (Adams et al., 2018; Leal Filho et al., 2019; Stein et al., 2019). 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 Education in Ghana were upgraded to University Colleges status to offer a four-year Bachelor of Education degree (Kokutse, 2018). If your Aunt Sally really wants to help, she can vote for legislation that ensures teachers are paid fairly. Unstructured questionnaires and Teacher observations were utilised in the process of generating the data. Teach. The study explicitly followed a qualitative approach to research specifically a case study design. World Health Organization. Inclusive education in Ghana: How prepared are the teachers? ), but not the accessibility of these facilities. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Guardian, Scholastic, Inc., the College Board, the Center for Teaching Quality, and Education Week. See response below: Whatever course that they take, we have components of misconceptions. Adera, B. Geneva: World Health Organization. International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: Children & Youth Version: ICF-CY. Herp-Ghana. Teach. CBR Incl. Government of Ghana. The site observation was taken to audit the accessibility of the physical environment. MCE Clears Negative Stereotypes Of TVET Education | News Ghana Ethn. United Nations Communications Groups [UNCG] (2017). ODS y educacin superior. Hopefully, the ones listed here will help you respond in the right way and shed some light on the truths of the teaching profession. Further, the student teachers in year three are tasked to identify learners who struggle to overcome barriers. The student reflective journal and the observation checklists identify barriers to learning. These outcomes were: Year one: awareness of self and learners as unique individuals, Year two: teachers values and attitudes impacting on pupils learning, how diversity impacts on learning, Year three: being a team member, co-teaching, and co-planning, planning for individualized instruction, Year four: teaching all learners; learners, school, and community. Our analytical tools, social model of disability and the SDGs goal 4 were synergistic, which allowed for comparative analysis. 27, 689701. 29, 316321. You can also describe the numerous meetings and committee work you're involved in. School of Education, Western Sydney University, Australia, University of South-Eastern Norway (USN), Norway. World Conference on Special Needs Education: Access and Quality. All Rights Reserved. Crit. eSchool News recently asked readers: If you could clear up one misconception about teachers and/or teaching, what would it be? Our goal was not only to help others understand these misconceptions, but also to learn how teachers feel they are perceived by others. If not, what can society do to nullify or erase some misconceptions about the teaching profession in Ghana and also equip ourselves in readiness for the task given to us as a group, that is Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Teaching Educators, Training Institutions, including the Universities and all other teaching affiliate bodies One of the profound characteristics of the SDGS is the fact that all the goals are interconnected. 32:69. doi: 10.47985/dcidj.419. The SDGs target 4.8 outlines the need to build and upgrade educational facilities that are disability sensitive. 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). 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). The interview with the key informant was done in English, conducted in the participants office, and lasted for an hour. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version. Plenty of studies conclude that higher teacher pay leads to better teacher quality, which leads to improved student performance. The curriculum of Colleges of Education in Ghana rightly states the need to identify barriers to learning and working with stakeholders to address these barriers, which is also listed in the student reflective journals. There are two major case study designs: single-case study designs and multiple-case study designs. eds. In two different studies conducted in sub-Saharan countries, 66.3% to 99.7% were reported to have misconceptions about the etiology of TB, 27.6%-90% likewise misunderstood the symptoms of TB, 0.1% . 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. Top 7 Misconceptions About Ghana - Modern Ghana Junior High School Math/Science Teacher - peacecorps.gov (2007). Two forms, student reflective journal and daily portfolio sheet comprise of the portfolio, which is usually returned to their tutors for grading. Evolving Indian strategy on SDGs and scope for regional cooperation. Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Ghana: The truths beyond the The sample comprised 37 Junior High School (JHS) pupils and one science teacher in Abelemkpe Junior High School in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Teachers need much pedagogical preparation on topics including educational psychology, classroom management, assessment, curriculum instruction, communication skills, and budgeting. It seems everyone has an opinion about teachers and their profession these days and most of them arent teachers. Certification helps to build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of local employers and government tech initiatives. It was the first news agency . Epilepsy Behav. In my view, it is good the government has assured Ghanaians that the CSE will not be. Clean. 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. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Class sizes range from about 20 students to 45 or more. Assoc. 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). Yin emphasized that a single-case design could be selected because of its criticalness, extremeness, typicalness, revelatory power, or longitudinal possibility (Yin, 1994). 25, 2139. Johnstone, C. J., Schuelka, M. J., and Swadek, G. (2020). J. Soc. Available at: http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Ghana/Ghana%20Education%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf (Accessed July 28, 2022). How to Respond to the 6 Biggest Misconceptions About Teaching by Nancy Barile, Award-Winning Teacher, M.A.Ed. 12, 2832. (2018b). Received: 29 September 2022; Accepted: 16 January 2023; Published: 23 February 2023. In response to the challenges confronting the education of students with disabilities in Ghana, stakeholders have made concerted efforts in the education sector to embrace the ideals of inclusive education. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.032. Teachers' Experiences With Overcrowded Classrooms in A Basic School in Access to higher education in Ghana: examining experiences through the lens of students with mobility disabilities. Senior High School Education in Ghana, from September 2017 became free (Tamanja and Pajibo, 2019). Persons with disabilities continue to lag in education, which affects their employment and income and overall well-being. 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. That the student teacher reflection is aimed at increasing their disability sensitivity and inclusion is fallacious. doi: 10.54674/ess.v32i2.288. Here are 10 misconceptions about teachers and teaching that emerged from readers (responses edited for brevity): 1. Finkelstein, V. (1980). 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? If you're in the same boat, here's a handy cheat sheet to help set your lunatic cousin Larry straight when he claims to know more than you do about your own vocation. SDGs Goal 4-Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all (specifically, targets: 4.5, 4.6, 4.8), and the social model of disability guided the review. She was also awarded the 2011 Massachusetts Commonwealth Award in Creative Leadership, and in 2007 was named a member of the 2007 USA Today All-Teacher Team. Akyeampong, K. (2009). For example, ICF combines both the social and the medical models of disability. Central Region of Ghana. Post-2015 Education MDGs. The proponents of the social model of disability contest that a students personal characteristics such as having an impairment is not the major impediment to learning, but barriers created by schools and society (World Health Organization, 2011; Nakua et al., 2017; Braun and Naami, 2021). "Teachers Have a Paid Summer Vacation", Each year, teachers must take an unpaid furlough during July and August. World Health Organization. The FCUBE concentrated on enhancing the standard of instruction and learning, expanding educational access, and promoting the involvement of all school-age children, including the formation of local educational organizations to facilitate effective management of education (Agbenyega et al., 2005). New York: World Rehabilitation Fund. 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. Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability teaching at universities: Falling behind or getting ahead of the pack? In spite of the progress that Ghana has made in improving access to school, several children cannot read or write. (2021). (2016). J. Disabil. doi: 10.1177/107554708100300106. Dev. In this paper, we use the social model of disability and anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals, to examine the preparedness of student teachers in meeting the needs of learners with diverse learning needs. All these barriers could inhibit access of persons with disabilities in the school and impact on their learning. Comp. Calles, C. (2020). Both researchers independently coded the data to enhance the credibility of the study. 2010 Population and Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results . Misconception:Force is always in the direction of an object's motion.21 Transfer of Energy Concept: Objects come to the temperature of their surroundings. Access barriers encountered by persons with mobility disabilities in Accra, Ghana. Confronting them is difficult for the student and the teacher. J. Education is necessary for persons with disabilities to break out of the cycle of poverty as recognized by both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals. There are few jobs that offer this kind of reward. Revista Educacin Superior y Sociedad (ESS) 32, 167201. "The one misconception I would like to clarify is around the phrase, 'Those who can cannot do, teach.' Dev. We evaluated the four learning outcomes under the equity and inclusivity of the cross-cutting pillar. Umm.Not.So.Much. It's never wise to centralize power in one person, whether that's a superintendent or a mayor. Vol. (2006) observed that most of pre-service teachers had misconceptions about photosynthesis and respiration in plants. Traditional beliefs and knowledge base about epilepsy among university students in Ghana. 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). For years, governments and other national and international stakeholders have focused their attention on making sure that all children can attend school, and they have backed up that commitment with funding. Your source for IT solutions and innovations to support school-wide success. Disabil. The policy (Ministry of Education, 2015: p. 6) defines a child with special educational needs [SEN] as: a child with disability, namely, visual, hearing, locomotor, and intellectual impairments. Throughout the curriculum and other auxiliary documents, there are phrases and statements such as How much time was spent helping this student? Did the teacher spend time helping them Did the student(s) with learning needs successfully complete the activities/tasks assigned in the lesson? These questions amply testify that the focus of curriculum and other auxiliary documents are on learners with learning difficulties to the neglect of other categories of disabilities.