The Government of Ghana has announced plans to develop a sustainable policy for the development and use of Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL) in the country's education system. This move is aimed at formally recognising and institutionalising GSL, according to Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minister of Education. The policy will address one of the most important issues in deaf education in Ghana.
Mr Iddrisu made this announcement at a dialogue on "Strengthening Quality Multilingual Inclusive Education for Deaf Learners in Ghana" in Accra. He emphasised that GSL is not just a communication technique for many deaf Ghanaians, but a language through which they express themselves, develop their identity, and participate fully in society. The Minister recognised the need for a clear and sustainable policy framework for the development and use of GSL in education.
The proposed policy will be aligned with Ghana's constitutional, legal, and international commitments, and will be evidence-based, inclusive, and carefully coordinated. Mr Iddrisu outlined eight key areas the policy will address, including the standardisation and development of GSL and the documentation of appropriate terminology, such as academic and scientific vocabulary. The policy will also focus on preparing teaching and learning materials.
The policy will also cover the training and certification of sign language teachers and interpreters, incorporating sign language competencies into relevant teacher education programmes, and ensuring the recruitment and deployment of appropriately trained personnel. Additionally, it will provide for accessible assessment practices, strengthen bilingual and multilingual approaches to teaching deaf learners, and ensure systematic monitoring of learning outcomes.
Mr Iddrisu stressed that the recognition of GSL must translate into real educational opportunities and improved learning outcomes, rather than remaining a policy declaration. He highlighted the importance of multilingual education in Ghana, given the country's linguistic diversity. For deaf learners, multilingualism should recognise the role of GSL alongside written and spoken languages.
The Minister advocated for an approach that enables deaf learners to develop strong foundational competencies in GSL while progressively acquiring literacy in written English and other languages relevant to their communities and educational pathways. He noted that children learn best when they understand and actively participate in the learning process, hence the need to prioritise participation.
The ultimate measure of success, according to Mr Iddrisu, should not be the number of learners with disabilities enrolled in school, but whether they are learning, reading, and communicating effectively, acquiring numeracy and digital skills, progressing through the education system, and gaining skills for further education, employment, and independent living. The policy aims to improve educational outcomes for deaf learners in Ghana.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government plans to develop a policy for the use of Ghanaian Sign Language (GSL) in education to improve educational opportunities for deaf learners.
