By Chris Agbo, Abuja
Centre for Citizens With Disabilities (CCD) expressed dismay over the exclusion of Abians with disabilities in Radio Class program created by Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA).
In a press release signed by The Executive Director of CCD, Mr. David Anyaele, the group commended Abia State government for creating innovative education Radio Class program on Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA) to keep students and their parents busy during the period of the lockdown as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.
The group appreciated Abia State government efforts to ensure that the academics of our highflying school children do not suffer too much from the pandemic and its associated social disruptions, as Abia State has been on the lead in WEAC Examination result in Nigeria for 3 years now. The Radio Class program was designed to assist in keeping school children busy and abreast of their academics pending the resumption of normal classes.
The Radio Class Program is a welcome development because it provided opportunity for school children to have access to Education even at this time of lockdown accasioned by Coronavirus pandemic but the group is worried that the program discriminates, excludes, isolates and denies more than 600,000 persons with disabilities in Abia State, in particular, persons with hearing impairment as they cannot hear anything being taught on the Radio Class program on BCA Radio Station.
Going further, the group believes that it is depressing that the design and implementation of this Radio Class program on BCA Radio is a demonstration by Abia State government that the education of persons with disabilities does not matter, and another example of State led abuse of persons with disabilities’ rights to education and vocational training.
The group is deeply concerned that Abia State government has continued to conduct it programs and activities at the exclusion of persons with disabilities in the State, especially at this period of Covid-19 pandemic as every activity of the State government that is designed as a palliatives at this lockdown, excludes Abians with Disabilities.
The CCD boss reiterated that this pathetic situation of Abians with disabilities is not unconnected with the delay by the Abia State House of Assembly to pass Abia State Disability Bill, to protect citizens with disabilities in the State from discrimination and other harmful practices.
The group urged Abia State government led by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, take appropriate measure to review this Radio Class program on BCA to accommodate persons with hearing impairment and persons with disabilities in general.
The group recommended the use of BCA Television with a Sign Language Interpreter instead of the Radio Class program to ensure access to education to the deaf students, so that no-one-is-left-behind as a result of his or her disability in the State education system.
CCD called on Abia State House of Assembly to pass Abia State Disability Bill or adopt the National Disability Act without further delay. The National Disability Act prohibits all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities. It also provides rights to: education, healthcare, access to public infrastructures amongst others.
“We call on Abia State Ministry of Education to consult the leadership of organisations of persons with disabilities in the State, for support on approaches of ensuring that persons with disabilities are included in the Radio Class program, we wish to remind Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on what God says in the book of Proverb 31 v 8-9: it says “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” the group concluded.
Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is an organization of, and for persons with disabilities and their families that works to promote disability rights, independence living and inclusion of persons with disabilities in development agenda. It also works to educate, support and empower persons with disabilities and their families to maximize their potentials.
