The Proprietor of The Leading Inclusive School In Kurudu, Abuja, SafeHost International Academy, Mrs. Ngozi Belolisa has called on government and faith based organizations such as churches, mosques etc to prioritize the challenges of parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
She made this call during a chat with TQM at the 2023 graduation ceremony of SafeHost International Academy on Friday, 14th July, 2023 at the School Premises.
She said that it has been challenging running an Inclusive school, but it is working because of her passion for the work.
“We have many teachers, some of them have left because of insufficient salaries and allowances but luckily, the teachers around now are passionate about the work and they are ready to learn”.
“One challenge facing us is that many parents of these children can’t afford the hight cost of the learning of these children. Even when they have been given a lot of discount, the problem still persist.
“Some parents have withdrawn their wards with disability for lack of funds, my heart bleeds when such happens but there is nothing I can do because I am not charging them much and I am still going to pay rent, the teachers and other expenses. It hasn’t been easy running the school, graciously, some students are on scholarship and there has been some support from well meaning Nigerians which has enable us to accommodate many children with disabilities on discount rate”.
She proffered that government should come in and collect data of these children with disabilities and their parents, assess the challenges that they are facing and find ways to support them and other caregivers. It can be through formulation of policy geared towards economic empowerment of these parents and proper allowances for the caregivers to serve as an encouragement as well as budgeting to address the peculiar need for education of these children with disabilities.
She also called on faith based organizations to assist some of these parents especially those who worship with them to pay for education of these children.
“Pastors and Imams should look out for their members who have children with disabilities and assist them because they are going through a lot.
“As an Inclusive school, our story has been successful, we are involving every child in all activities whether the child have a disability or not to participate in the best of their ability. This strategy has paid off as there has been remarkable improvement in the lives of the children. Those with speech impairment, their speech has improved significantly, those with coordination issues have improved in such a way that they are doing some things for themselves.
She acknowledged the cooperation of the parents and urged other parents who still have doubt about their child, to have strong belief that they will be changes.
Mrs Dinah Iyagba, whose child is slightly autistic, told TQM that when she brought her child to the school, she can hardly talk and she is not doing so many things on her own but with the help of the school, she can do some things on her own and she can say some things one can understand.
Initially, Mrs. Iyagba hired a speech therapist for her daughter but after a while of no significant improvement, there was an advice that she needed a school to improve.
“Honestly, she has improved and everyday, she keep getting better and one thing I like about SafeHost is that they don’t leave out these children with disabilities in whatever they do. Like today, children with disabilities participated in most of the presentation, it is like a tradition in SafeHost over the years.
Speaking on some parents of Children With Disabilities who have keep the wards out of school, she informed that it is always lack of money because to keep a child with disability in school requires a lot of money. She advised that parents should always watch their children closely and take action when they discovered that there is something unusual. Early intervention is key and parents should accept the condition of their children when they have been diagnosed of any form of disability.
“Accept your child’s condition and start early to seek solution, you don’t know what the child will become tomorrow, with early intervention, some of them will end up doing well in future.
Favour Adjara a volunteer to SafeHost International who received outstanding award for her volunteering to assist SafeHost in different capacities. In course of her volunteering, she has done many things for the school free of charge according to Mrs. Ngozi Belolisa while presenting the award to her.
Miss Favour in appreciation of the award said that she is elated receiving the award from the school and it came as a surprise. She said that it is an encouragement to do more not only for the school but for the disability community at large.
Speaking further, she said she is motivated to assist other persons with disabilities because she has had her own share of negatives as a person with disability and she doesn’t want any other person with disability to experience the same.
“I tend to volunteer to assist individuals whether persons with disability or persons without disabilities. It is also to show that persons with disability can contribute to the development of the society” she added.
She encouraged SafeHost to remain steadfast in what they are doing even in the face of so much challenges because it is not easy to run an Inclusive school but they should know that their service is making impact in the society.
She also advised parents of children with disabilities who are still hiding the children to know that there is ability in disability and exposing these children helps them to discover their abilities. She also said that it is important to note that these children has rights and denying them education is a violation of their rights.
Mrs. Bibora Yinkere who also received an award for her outstanding contributions towards the development of these children with disabilities, felt excited and surprised for the award and said that it is one of the most valuable award she has ever received because it is coming for somebody who sincerely value the work because the government and general public do not value this kind of work.
She also said that challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities depends on the forms of disability.
“My daughter is affected by Downsydrome, her case is purely learning disability, she seems not improving academically which is frustrating for some parents but socially she is fine”.
She called on government to assist because it is not easy for the parents paying the bills and the teachers need constant training to meet up with the peculiar learning requirements of these children.
