British Council urges FG to prioritise inclusive education for special needs children
By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The British Council has called on the Federal Government to place a strong emphasis on inclusive education to address the needs of special children in the country.
The Director of Programmes, Chikodi Onyeremela, stressed the importance of equal opportunities during the Annual Inclusive Education Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Conference Theme is, “Fostering Inclusion and Equity in Education”.
Onyeremela highlighted that prioritising inclusive education would not only offer equal opportunities but also contribute to diversification and the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He emphasised the global trend of deploying inclusive strategies in educational systems and urged the government to implement mechanisms ensuring the inclusion of disabilities in the educational framework.
Prof. Ismail Junaidu, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), emphasised the government’s responsibility to fulfill the fundamental rights of children’s education.
Junaidu called for the design of a curriculum that accommodates all children, especially those with special needs.
While acknowledging NERDC’s robust framework for special needs education, he stressed the need for immediate, holistic implementation.
Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to inclusion and equality by signing and ratifying the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 24.
He emphasised the goal of achieving access to quality basic education for all school-age children, including those with disabilities, by 2030.
Sununu acknowledged existing challenges and outlined the ministry’s efforts in collaboration with relevant agencies and partners to establish a support system.
Lucy Pearson, the Country Director of the British Council, urged tiers of government to formulate inclusive policies and integrate them into the educational system.
Pearson emphasised the need for Nigeria to transform its educational system to create a conducive environment for individuals with special needs.
The conference, attended by stakeholders from the private sector, school owners, development partners, and civil society organisations, focused on addressing challenges and fostering inclusive education in the nation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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