Inclusive Early Childhood Education in Ghana

Chance for Childhood Ghana: Advancing Inclusive Education and Disability Inclusion

Chance for Childhood Ghana is a child-centred non-governmental organisation working to ensure that all children, particularly children with disabilities and other special educational needs (SEN) have access to safe, inclusive and quality education. Our work focuses on strengthening education systems, building the capacity of educators and caregivers, promoting safeguarding, and removing barriers that prevent children from learning and thriving.

Objectives Our initiatives aim to: • Increase access to inclusive and quality education for children with disabilities and additional learning needs. https://youtu.be/-O_E9Ru9M1A • Strengthen the capacity of teachers, school leaders and education officials to identify and support diverse learning needs. https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/40-teachersundergo-training-to-identify-children-with-special-needs/ • Promote early identification and intervention for children with disabilities through innovative screening approaches, including the use of Chance for Childhood’s Disability Detect App, a low-cost digital tool used to detect signs of disabilities in children. https://gna.org.gh/2023/12/ennovate-innovation-hub-launch-digitalapp-for-early-detection-of-disabilities-in-children/ • Improve foundational literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional learning outcomes. • Strengthen child safeguarding systems and inclusive school environments. https://gna.org.gh/2023/10/cfc-promotes-inclusive-and-safe-schoolenvironment/ • Provide tactile and inclusive Teaching and Learning Resources (TLRs) to support practical, hands-on, multisensory and play-based learning for all children, including those with disabilities. https://gna.org.gh/2025/05/chance-forchildhood-donates-to-55-public-schools/ • Educate parents, caregivers and community members to improve their understanding about disability and inclusive education, strengthen parental engagement and reduce stigma. https://gna.org.gh/2023/11/chance-for-childhood-trains-parents-on-inclusiveeducation/ • Provide financial literacy training and livelihood grants to mothers of children with disabilities to strengthen household economic resilience. https://gna.org.gh/2025/12/cfclaunches-livelihood-empowerment-initiative-to-support-parents-of-disability-children/ • Influence education policy and practice through evidence generation and partnerships.

Target Beneficiaries Our primary beneficiaries are children aged 3–18 years, particularly children with disabilities, special educational needs, girls, children living in poverty, and other vulnerable groups. Secondary beneficiaries include teachers, head teachers, education officers, parents, caregivers and community leaders.

Geographic Scope Chance for Childhood Ghana operates across multiple regions, including Greater Accra and Northern Ghana, working closely with the Ghana Education Service, local authorities and communities. Our programmes have been implemented in both urban and rural settings, including Greater Accra, Northern Region and other underserved communities.

Key Interventions and Outcomes A flagship component of our work is the promotion of inclusive education through teacher training, coaching and classroom support. We have trained teachers on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiated instruction, Individualised Education Planning (IEP), disability inclusion, play-based methodology and safeguarding.

We developed and deployed the Disability Detect App, Ghana's first school-based disability screening tool, adapted from the Washington Group Child Functioning Module. Through this innovation, more than 27,000 children in mainstream schools have been screened, helping teachers identify learners who may require additional support, accommodations or referrals. Through our inclusive education programmes, thousands of children have benefited from improved teaching practices, assistive learning resources, referrals for assessment and treatment, and enhanced participation in learning. Parents and caregivers have also been empowered through awareness sessions and coaching to better support children at home.

Lessons Learned Our experience demonstrates that many children with disabilities remain unidentified in mainstream schools and therefore do not receive the support they need. Early identification, combined with teacher capacity building and parental engagement, significantly improves participation and learning outcomes. We have also learned that sustainable inclusion requires strong partnerships with government, schools, communities and health service providers.

Through evidence generation, innovation and collaboration, Chance for Childhood Ghana continues to contribute to building an education system where every child, regardless of ability or background, has the opportunity to learn, participate and reach their full potential.