FACTORS AFFECTING EFFICACY OF ASSESSMENT CENTRES IN ASSESSING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS IN WINNEBA, HOHOE AND ACCRA CENTRES

ABSTRACT This research was designed to investigate the factors affecting efficacy of assessment centres in assessing children with special educational needs in Winneba, Hohoe and Accra centres. One of the major research questions that guided the study examined the material and logistics used in assessing children with special educational needs in the assessment centres. One hundred and twenty respondents sampled took part in the study. Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to elicit information from heads and assessment team and parents respectively. The responses to the research instruments were organised and analysed using the SPSS version 16 software package. The statistical tools used to present the results were frequency counts, percentages, chi-square and ANOVA. The findings obtained showed that (95%) of heads and assessment team members (84) representing a significant number (79) employed the appropriate procedures such as screening, pre-referral services, eligibility, monitoring and evaluation in assessing children with special educational needs. However, the materials and logistics such as audiometer, otoscope and tympanometer needed to run the centres were inadequate. On the basis of the findings, recommendations were made for implementation such as the following: Ministry of Education should provide inservice training for the staff of Assessment Centres; the Ghana Education Service should be more responsive in the building up of these Centres by providing funds for their activities, materials and logistics as well as training more audiologists in the medical institutions.