by Chris Agbo,
In commemoration of the 2021 children’s day celebration, Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC) on Thursday in Abuja organized a one-day National Dialogue on the rights of children with disabilities to education.
The event which was supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) program of the British Council, funded by the European Union, was designed to critically analyse the situation of children with disabilities in Nigeria, particularly their access to safe and quality education and the importance of both inclusive and special modes of education in the lives of children with disabilities.
The Associate Director, DRAC, Olanike Akinbola, on behalf of the Executive Director, in her opening speech said that access to safe and quality education is a right of every child irrespective of gender, ethnicity, disability, or religion. Speaking further, she stated that the dialogue was particularly important because for an awfully long time, children with disabilities in Nigeria have been faced with several forms of violence in their home, community and even their learning environment and it has become pertinent to find lasting solutions to the situation.
Grace Labara, the Head, Special Services Division of the FCT Secondary Education Board in her goodwill message, commended DRAC for putting together such a special program which will help to further provide guidelines towards implementation of policies and programs that are geared towards the improvement of education for children with disabilities. She advised the students present at the event to believe in themselves so that they can achieve whatever they set out to achieve.
Olorunfemi Olusegun from Child Protection Network in his goodwill message also commended DRAC for paying special attention to the dire situation of children with disabilities in Nigeria and stated that OPDs and CSOs need to get acquainted with relevant laws and policies on the education of children with disabilities in Nigeria to further guide them in their advocacy efforts to government and other relevant stakeholders.
Grace Labara in her presentation titled Overview of Education of Children with Disabilities in Nigeria: Then and Now, described what the different forms of education strategies that have been rolled out by government and other stakeholders in the past towards the education of children with disabilities Nigeria. She shed light on what worked and did not and highlighted the three eras identified in the development of special education in Nigeria, giving a clear background to what is being practiced today.
The highlight of the event was an interactive panel discussion on the promotion and protection of the rights of children with disabilities to education (special vs. inclusive education) which featured experts, advocates, practitioners, and students with disabilities such as Mr. Jake Epelle, Mr. Afolayan Muyiwa Timothy, Barr. Catherine Edeh, Comrade Bala Musa Tsoho, Mrs. Musiliu Ayinla, Oluwanifemi Soetan and Stephen Ayoede.
The panel discussion which was moderated by Barr. Yusuf Iyodo was able to unearth the challenges and benefits of both inclusive and special education. It was a robust discussion not just between the panelist but with members of the audience who also expressed their opinions on the matter.
At the end of the session, it was unanimously agreed that while both special and inclusive education are important in the lives of children with disabilities, the best approach is with inclusive education. However, depending on the type and severity of impairment, either of the modes of education can be utilized. It was also highlighted that organizations of persons with disabilities need to be united in holding government accountable towards the provision of safe, quality, and inclusive education in Nigeria.
The recommendations made at the meeting were compiled and unanimously adopted as the vital next steps for all and sundry towards ensuring that children with disabilities have access to safe, quality, and inclusive education on an equal basis as other children in Nigeria. According to DRAC, these recommendations will be further developed into a “green paper” to stimulate government and other stakeholders into acting on the issues raised.
The participants were drawn from both inclusive and special schools in the FCT, OPDs, CSOs, FCT education authorities and members of the media.
TQM learnt that the outcome of the meeting should be articulated and share with the stakeholders within the education sector, and it would also inform DRAC’s future engagement towards improvement of learning environment for children with disabilities.
SOME PICTURES OF THE EVENT
