Alfred Nimkur Nimfa, is teacher with visual impairment, he is married with a child and currently working as a volunteer with Model science Primary school, Mabudi, in Langtang South Local Government Area of Plateau state.
In this interview, he shared with our correspondents Bulus Bala Izang and Joshua Yenle the challenges the blind pupils are facing in the school.
TQM: What kind of volunteer work are you providing in the school?
I am teaching
TQM: How long have you been doing this?
I started January this year.
TQM: What subjects are you teaching?
I teach Braille and Typing.
TQM: Tell us a little about your educational background?
I have attended School for the Blind Children, Gindiri in Mangu local government and Government Secondary School Bolbong, also in Mangu local government of Plateau State for my primary and Secondary school education and l completed them in the year 2001. I later went to University of Jos for a Diploma in Special Education.
TQM: What is your general assessment of the Students here?
They are making progress and are really showing interest in their studies.
TQM: What about the school environment, is it conducive for learning for these pupils with disabilities?
There is no problem with the school environment, it is very conducive.
TQM: What about learning materials?
That is where we are having challenges, the basic learning materials are not just there. I have to be borrowing the students my stale and stylus. A visual impaired primary school person without stale and stylus in our society is just not good.
TQM: What about their parents, are they cooperating?
The parents are not really cooperating; most of them don’t care about their children’s education.
Alfred Nimkur Nimfa and one of his pupils with disabilities,
Yilpypen Zingfa
TQM: What steps are you taking for a better corporation?
I am using my God given opportunity as the Chairperson of the cluster (Association for the Blind) Langtang south to educate parents on the importance of educating children with disabilities. The children can still have a better future; they have the ability to be achievers in the society.
TQM: How many pupils with disabilities do you have in this school?
We have about thirty pupils with disabilities.
TQM: What other engagement do you have, apart from your volunteering work in the school?
I am into gospel music, l do small scale poultry farm and selling of phones and phones accessories to provide for my family.
TQM. Have you ever received financial assistance from the government or individuals around you?
No, l have been doing things myself, the only support l am having is coming from God.
TQM. As an adult, have you ever experience any form of abuse of your rights, because of your disability?
Yes, in fact, it is a common occurrence in the life of a person with disability in Nigeria.
TQM: How do you handle or manage such a situation?
I actually see such things as an act of ignorance.
TQM: You don’t consider involving institutions established to protect the rights of persons with disabilities such as Disability Rights Commission and the rest, or you don’t know about them?
I know about them, l just have not involved them, May be because of the distance.
TQM: Any parting word?
I am calling the government or individuals, to assist me with employment or to empower with capital to increase my business.
TQM: Thank you for your time sir.
Thank you for the good job you are doing
