The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), has called for inclusive education to empower persons with disability (PWDs) and help them attain their full potential.
Mr Usman Umoro, Programme officer, JONAPWD, made the call at a technical support programme on Inclusive Education Policy in Anambra, under the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) project.
The project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by Palladium Group.
Umoro lamented that Nigeria practiced segregative system of education with the establishment of special needs schools where PWDs learn separately from their non-disabled peers.
According to him, segregative system of education does not promote inclusiveness, equality and does not facilitate PWDs’ active participation in the society.
“Inclusive education is about designing our mainstream schools and classrooms’ activities so that all students can learn and participate together irrespective of ability or disability.
“PWDs sitting, studying, playing and participating in academic and recreational activities with their non-disabled peers, allows them to develop individual strengths and feel a sense of belonging.
“When PWDs learn in the same school as their non-disabled peers, then the society is said to be ‘inclusive’, it empowers them to integrate in mainstream society and attain their full potential,”he said.
Also speaking, Prof. Charlie Esimone, Vice-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said the institution established the Centre for Disability and Special Needs Research in 2019 to promote inclusive education.
Esimone, who was represented by the Director of the centre, Prof. Williams Obiozor, said they provided crutches, brailles, wheelchairs and other assistive devices for about 70 students with disability studying in the institution.
“Irrespective of disability, everyone has equal right to quality education. This is why the university provided facilities for easy access to education for PWDs,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Ugochukwu Okeke, Anambra state Chairman, JONAPWD, said there was need to strengthen legislation to promote inclusive education that will empower PWDs and make them self-reliant.
Okeke urged the state government to train teachers, provide funding and infrastructure to drive inclusive education so that PWDs can contribute meaningfully to the society.
The highlight of the programme was the development of a draft inclusive education plan for the state.
