By DisabilityNewsGh
The Government of Ghana has launched a scholarship scheme for students with disabilities in public tertiary institutions.
The scheme dubbed, Disability Support Initiative (DSI), will provide for the payment of academic facility user fees and continuous professional development programme for their instructors.
Launching the scheme on February 3, 2022, at the University of Education-Winneba, the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, Mr Kingsley Agyemang said, the initiative was expected to restore confidence, hope and empower students with disabilities in the various public tertiary institutions.
He appealed to authorities of the country’s public institutions, alumni, corporate organisations and religious bodies to extend support to students with special needs.
Mr. Agyemang also announced the increase of a current bursary for students with disabilities in public tertiary institutions by 200%.
The Ghc350 per year for a student bursary will now increase to Ghc1,050 per year.
It has always been difficult for students with disabilities to access the various scholarship schemes in the country. It was against this background that the National Scholarship Secretariat in 2005, introduced a bursary of Ghc350 per year for each student with disability in public tertiary institutions.
The bursary is meant to cushion their stay on campus, including covering the purchase of assistive devices.
The initiative, even though commendable, was woefully inadequate. The students complained that the amount was not enough to meet their monthly needs, let alone a whole year.
The increment, therefore, comes as welcome news, even though the students say it could have been better.
The President of Association of students with special needs, UEW chapter, Musah Danaa, told DisabilityNewsGh that they were excited about the increment. And hoped that the next increment would not take another 17 years.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGh