LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin By Oyebola Owolabi
Stakeholders in the education sector have called on governments at all levels to scale up investment in education to particularly provide covering for special needs children.
The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), during its 2024 Education Summit, themed ‘Inclusive Education: Leave No Child Behind’, advocated for greater action, especially funding, to engender education for every child irrespective of race, creed, religion and social status.
Lagos State Coordinator of CSACEFA Mrs. Olubunmi Francis noted that the coalition is focused on ensuring that every child in Lagos gets quality education.
She said: “We understand that every child has different abilities and disabilities, so it is important that all children are included in government’s programmes and policies.
“Our special focus for this summit is to address the issues of inclusive education, especially bearing in mind that the mantra of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) says ‘Leave no child behind’. We wanted to address the marginalisation of some children. We also want to address the challenges of financing inclusive education.
“A lot still needs to be done with respect to the inclusive schools in Lagos, teacher-development, especially in the area of special needs, as well as infrastructure, considering children with mobility issues.
“The schools should have ramps, teaching resources that address children with disabilities and, most importantly, there is need for the girl-child to be included in the school system.
“We are hoping that after this summit, the Lagos State government will pay more robust attention to its policies on inclusive education, and ensure a more conducive environment for every child to thrive and to get quality education. No child should by any means be excluded for any reason whatsoever.”
Project Director of the Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation Mrs. Mathilda Otitoju particularly urged government to liaise with external examination bodies to develop a template that would help children with intellectual disabilities write such exams.
According to her, the pupils might be unable to hold a pen, but they have the ability to listen and read out their answers. “While they do this, an official can help to write out their answers. Digital technology can also be used like JAMB did in the last exam, which we are so grateful for,” she said.
Another stakeholder, Bankole Adekeye stressed the need for the social aspect of inclusive education. According him, special needs children should to be trained in social treatment and acceptance to prepare them for the education they need.
Chairman of LASUBEB, Hakeem Babatunde-Shittu, represented by Director of Teacher Establishment, Mrs. Eniola Olatunde, said government is involving stakeholders in its policies because it cannot do it alone.
He also restated the government’s commitment to ensuring that no child is denied quality education.
“Our Project Zero is to ensure that no child of school age is out of school. When such kids are brought to school, we kit them free (uniform, school bag, water bottle, writing materials). We also pay a stipend to our marshalls who bring in these kids. We pay per child so they are encouraged to bring in as many as possible.
“The project has admitted about 30,000 children in the last four years since coming into existence after COVID-19 pandemic.
“We also continue to develop programs and policies that involve even the parents, because when the parents have a source of income, they are encouraged to send their wards to school. The government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and SUBEB, has trained about 450 indigent parents because because we know that enrollment is not enough, retention and completion is very key. But if the family is hungry, the children cannot learn. So we continue to build the capacity of parents to ensure they have a source of income so they can take care of their children.
“Let us not also forget that education is free in our public primary schools as part of efforts to encourage more children to come to school.”
