Assessment of Students with Visual Impairment: A Case

65
JERA/RARE 5
Assessment of Students with Visual Impairment: A Case Study
of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana
K ETSEY1, H. OWOLABI2, Mr. Kofi NTIM3
1- Department of Educational Foundations,
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
2- Department of Educational Foundations,
University of Cape Coast, Ghana - [email protected]
3- Department of Educational Foundations
University of Cape Coast, Ghana
Corresponding Author : Dr. Henry Owolabi +2348033733311
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at finding out the practices adopted for the assessment
of Students with Visual Impairment (SVIs) in the University of Cape Coast
(UCC), Ghana. The purpose was to find answers to research questions on
the procedures used for assessment of SVIs, the materials and resources
available for use and problems encountered by SVIs in relation to their
assessment. University of Cape Coast was the unit of analysis of the case
study and the embedded design was used for data collection from 35 SVIs
and 2 Resource Personnel of the University’s Resource Centre. Data were
collected with the use of questionnaire, interview schedule and inspection
of resources available for use of SVIs. The qualitative method was used
alongside the quantitative analysis in the form of frequency tables were
used for the data analysis. It was found that testing conditions for SVIs
that sit for their papers in the UCC Resource Centre were comparable to the
rest of the students that take their papers in the examination halls. Braille
transcription of question papers, synchronization of the timing of papers
for all students, and ensuring uniform instruction across centres were also
found as sources of challenge in the assessment of SVIs. Implications of
these were discussed and it was recommended that more training should
be given to lecturers and staff of the UCC’s Resource Centre to improve
their assessment practices for SVIs.
Key Words: Assessment Practices, Assessment of Students with Visual
Impairment, Visual Impairment, University of Cape Coast
INTRODUCTION
Blindness is one of the barriers
to education. It has prevented many
citizens of African countries from
attaining their academic, career,
professional and other potentials.
The United Nations has addressed
this by the declaration of education
as a fundamental human right
with Article 26 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights of
1948 which specifically states that
basic, technical and professional
education shall be made generally
available while higher education
shall be equally accessible to all
on the basis of merit. Issues of
discrimination were addressed by
the UNESCO’s Convention against
Discrimination in Education (1960)
which prohibits exclusion of the
blind and other such people from
access to educational opportunities.
This was followed up by the United
Nation’s Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
which emphasizes the requirement
of countries to ensure that none
is denied access to education on
account of any form of disability.
Ghana is a signatory to this treaty
and so it is expected that all persons
with disabilities will have access to
education at all levels.
Students with visual impairment
(SVIs) have visual acuity that is not
sufficient for them to participate
with ease in everyday activities
that other students engage in. The
school system, none the less, has
to provide for the education of SVIs.
The characteristics commonly
associated with SVIs include low
visual acuity, visual field limitation,
progressive eye disease, or cortical
visual impairment. The impairment
may interfere with optimal learning
and achievement and can result
in a substantial educational
disadvantage unless adaptations are
made in the methods of presenting
learning opportunities, the nature of
materials used and/or the learning
environment. Students with noncorrectable vision problems have
visual impairments.
Allman (2004) classified visual
impairment in Special Education
or regular school environment into
four depending on the severity of
the condition:
K ETSEY, H. OWOLABI & Mr. Kofi NTIM (2013). Assessment of Students with Visual Impairment: A Case Study of the University..