GHANA: Afram Publications launches inclusive education book ‘Suspects in the School’

Afram Publications Limited has launched an inclusive education book titled ‘Suspects in the School- Secrets and Surprising Solutions.’

The 311-page book, written by Margarethe Ubels, was unveiled at the British Council Hall in Accra on Thursday, August 21.

Author Margarethe Ubels, who has spent years working with children with special learning needs in Ghana, explained that her professional experiences motivated her to turn real-life challenges into a story children could connect with.

“I’ve always been working with children, especially children with special needs, different learning needs. At some point, it started running together, writing stories for children and also teaching about children with different abilities. That is how this movement came to be,” she said.

According to Margaretha Ubels, “issues that affect the broader society, like plastic pollution, belief in witchcraft and corruption, which are not commonly addressed in children’s literature, but which are important to discuss for responsible citizenship, are all covered in the book.”

Giving a sneak peek into the book, Margaretha Ubels said, “All kinds of things are happening in their school: there are unexplained accidents, students disappear, there is something fishy about a competition and a classmate demonstrates unprecedented bad behaviour.

The book follows the three students as they try to make sense of the situations and defy the nonsense that others make of it. Through this, they emerge as detectives but also as leaders, concerned citizens and caring advocates. Readers experience these qualities as they get inside their skins and their heads, and the students become role models for responding to today’s realities in schools all over the country.”

She noted that, “the book is written for children in upper primary school but older students and even adults gain from the stories.”

The author stated that “Suspects in the School” is a good investment for every parent as it will engage their children for a long time while building their reading skills and forming their perceptions of the world around them.”

Board Chair of Afram Publications Ghana Ltd, Professor Esi Sutherland Addy, described the launch as a celebration of both the author and the importance of books.

“It’s a great pleasure to be able to outdoor another book. For us, it’s a joyous occasion. Books are for us not only full of knowledge, but I’m in awe of the authors and everything they put into putting a book together,” she remarked.

She praised Ubels for turning more than 20 years of experience into what she called “an exciting and accessible book.” She also encouraged Ghanaians to support local publishing and ensure children have access to books despite the dominance of online platforms.

President of the Ghana Publishers Association, Asare Yamoah, also commended the work, describing it as both nostalgic and revolutionary.

“Writing is a skill but more than that, it is a gift. Suspects in a School is one such story. It reflects the laughter, the mischief, the friendships, and the quiet moments that shaped our youth. This book is a window. It opens up the school world with honesty and warmth… sometimes humorous, sometimes sobering but always enlightening,” he said, urging the public to get copies and experience the story for themselves.

The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association and inclusive education advocate, Rebecca Ekpe, who officially launched the book, praised Ubels’ courage in tackling dyslexia and the wider issues of inclusive education.

She said the work was a call to action to confront deeply rooted beliefs and cultural practices that continue to undermine the rights of children to quality education.

The book addresses a wide range of issues, including dyslexia and reading difficulties, bullying in schools, parental neglect, and the lack of teacher training in handling children with special learning needs.

It raises critical concerns about how Ghana’s free basic education system accommodates children with learning challenges, while also touching on cultural and spiritual barriers that affect education in the country. Other themes include the importance of peer learning, journaling, and practical teaching methods, as well as subtle lessons on topics such as climate change and domestic tourism.

The launch featured a panel discussion led by Prof. Sutherland Addy, where panellists stressed the importance of making stories relatable and grounded in lived experiences.

Students from the Akropong School for the Blind read excerpts of the book in braille, including Class Six pupil Nana Yaa and another student, Morrison, who drew warm applause for their readings.

Later speaking to JoyNews, Ubels added that the book uses a detective-style narrative to help children engage with everyday mysteries in school life.

“It tackles a lot of issues that children are facing in a school environment. Things are happening in the school, and everybody’s wondering why. The students work together to solve the mysteries. I wrote this book because I believe books are a powerful tool in conveying messages. When you read, you can get into the skin of the main character, learn to think, and pick up new skills.”

She noted that Suspects in the School has been designed with accessibility in mind.

“The hard copy has been shaped with a layout and typeface that supports readers with dyslexia. There are also plans for a braille version and possibly an audiobook,” she revealed.

The author stated that “Suspects in the School” is a good investment for every parent as it will engage their children for a long time while building their reading skills and forming their perceptions of the world around them.

“Written stories trigger the imagination and allow the reader to move through a story at their own pace, relate it to their own life and reflect on characters and events. This is a book that many children will want to read several times as it contains so many themes, real-life situations and personalities. Each reading will provide new perspectives and insights. The beautiful illustrations will help them enjoy it even more,” Margaretha explained.

For parents with dyslexic children, the author said, “Formatting and typesetting are dyslexia-friendly, so individuals who have reading disorders will have less difficulty in reading it. Parents of children who don’t like reading should give them a copy and encourage them to engage with it, to taste the joy of reading stories despite the difficulties they usually encounter with written text.”

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Source: MyJoyOnline | Read Full Story…