A prestigious Australian Awards Fellowship has recently concluded in Accra, equipping a cohort of Ghanaian teacher educators with enhanced skills and knowledge to champion inclusive education practices in their home country.
Funded by the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the fellowship aimed to strengthen national reforms in teacher training and promote inclusive education leadership throughout Ghana.
The programme was a collaborative effort, supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (through the Australian Awards Fellowship), the School of Education at Western Sydney University, and the participating Colleges of Education and institutions of the fellowship beneficiaries.
Fellowship Objectives
The core objectives of the fellowship were to: • Enhance national teacher training reforms and inclusive education leadership. • Empower fellows to train pre-service teachers in creating inclusive learning environments for girls and students with disabilities. • Support individuals with disabilities in pursuing careers as teachers. • Increase fellows’ capacity to develop professional development opportunities for other educators in Ghana. • Prepare fellows to lead the implementation of the reformed teacher education curriculum. • Expose fellows to innovative, evidence-based inclusion policies and gender-responsive teaching methods.
The fellowship was structured into three distinct phases:
Phase 1: Groundwork in Ghana
The programme kicked off with a four-week preparatory phase in Ghana. Fellows engaged in intensive online discussions and collaborative work with partners from Western Sydney University. This initial period focused on critical reflection and a thorough examination of the challenges and opportunities within Ghana’s inclusive education landscape.
Participants established a strong foundation for their subsequent work by delving into the core principles of inclusive education and exploring strategies for driving meaningful change in their respective institutions.
Phase 2: Immersive Learning in Australia
The second phase saw the fellows travel to Australia for an immersive four-week experience. Field visits to Australian schools and community services provided firsthand insights into the practical implementation of inclusive education.
At Western Sydney University, fellows participated in lectures and tutorials that covered key topics such as inclusive pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning, collaborative teaching methods, and family-centered practices.
Workshops with leading Australian experts deepened the fellows’ understanding of the social model of disability, human rights frameworks, and university policies designed to support students with disabilities.
The fellows also explored best practices in curriculum design, assessment, and collaborative teaching approaches. Notably, fellows initiated action research projects, identifying specific challenges within the Ghanaian teacher education system and developing research proposals to address them.
Phase 3: Putting Knowledge into Action in Ghana
The final two-week phase focused on implementing the knowledge and skills gained in Australia back in Ghana. Fellows put their action research projects into practice, utilizing a reflective action cycle (planning, acting, observing, and reflecting) to tackle local challenges in inclusive education.
The goal was not only to improve their own teaching practices but also to enhance broader educational outcomes for learners with diverse needs.
Dr. William Nketsia of the School of Education at Western Sydney University, who led the fellowship, affirmed his commitment to providing continued support for Ghanaian teacher educators.
He pledged to explore future training opportunities to further assist Ghana in implementing its education reforms.
The 2025 Australian Awards Fellows included: Prof. Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), Prof. Augustina Naami (University of Ghana), Dr. Mavis Ansu Amponsah (Brekum College of Education), Ms. Ivy Danquah Perdison (Presbyterian College of Education-Akropong), Ms. Bertha Azaare Akutah (St. Ambrose College of Education, Dormaa-Akwamu), Ms. Ruth Quaye (Komenda College of Education), Mr. Emmanuel Djan (Wiaso College of Education), Mr. Daniel Ntiakoh Ayipah (Agogo Presbyterian Women’s College of Education), Mr. Felix Mawuena (Abetifi Presbyterian College of Education), Mr. Isaac Attia (Gambaga College of Education).
The Australian Awards Fellowship is expected to have a lasting impact on inclusive education in Ghana, as the participating teacher educators are now better equipped to champion inclusive practices within their institutions and communities.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
