At least 21 teachers from Region One, yesterday wrapped up a three-day training workshop on handling students with mainstream   blind and low vision in their various schools, at a ceremony held at the Region One Office in Old Jeshwang.

The workshop, organised by the Integrated Education Programme (IEP), under the Department of State for Education was funded by Sight Saves International, in collaboration with the DoSE.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Ramou S. Railey, National Coordinator of the Integrated Education Programme (IEP), said the workshop among other things was meant to train classroom teachers on how to handle students with mainstream blind and low vision.

According to her, the aim of the IEP project, is to enable blind and low vision children to have equal access to mainstream educational opportunities, through the provision of an integrated education programmes at basic and post basic education in basic schools.

“We also aim to allow blind and low vision children, their families, neighbours and friends to interact socially in a normal situation in the provision of education.   However, some of the constraints we face nowadays are identification, screening and medical assessment,” she said. She added that when these children are screanned in their various schools, they are reffered for further medical assessment, which some schools have positively turned up, while others did not.

According to her, IEP was piloted in 2003 and after achieving some of their goals, the programme was expanded to cover region 1 and 2, in 2007.

She then emphasised that during the course of the three-day workshop, participants covered a wide range of topics, ranging from basic phsychology of blindness, assessment and placement, management of visually- impaired children, introduction to braille, common cause of visually- impaired blindness and low vision,   and   living skills, P.E   methodology, among others.

Mrs Railey further revealed that a similar training   programme for teachers in Region Two, is expected to commence today, October 25th, at Brikama Regional Education Office.