Inclusivity: Centre urges Tinubu to address challenges of students with special needs
Christ The Light Special Mission For The Deaf, a non-profit centre for deaf education, has urged President Bola Tinubu to address challenges of students with special needs in Nigeria for sustainable inclusivity.
The Proprietor, Pastor Samuel Apeh, made the plea while speaking with newsmen at the Mission’s Graduation Ceremony of Class of 2024 and End Of the 2023/2024 Academic Session on Saturday in Lagos.
Stressing that special education needed greater attention in the country, Apeh said that there had been disparity in access to quality education between children without disabilities and individuals with disabilities.
According to him, educational services designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with disabilities have not received expected attention from well-meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations and government.
“The aim of special education is to provide these individuals with the necessary support to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and personally.
“The resources and infrastructure dedicated to special education often fall short of what is needed for these children to achieve their full potential.
“If we must achieve the much desired inclusivity and give hope to students with special needs, the government and the people must show more passion and commitment,” he said.
Apeh, who runs the educational centre for the hearing impaired with his wife, Oluwatoyin, said that passion to improve lives of children with such condition motivated them to found the mission in 2000.
He said that mission, as a non-profit organisation, provided opportunity for formal elementary and foundational as well as secondary education.
According to him, many special children have graduate from the centre’s primary school and got admission to secondary schools and universities, and are doing very well.
Applauding the academic capabilities of some of the special students, Apeh said that none of the mission’s students had ever failed any of the Common Entrance Examination of both the state and federal.
The founder said: “Some of them are even in model schools by merit in their examination and other conventional schools without any malpractices. They deserve more from us.
“Ours is an NGO with vision to impact on the lives of special children to bring out the best in them despite their challenges and we are committed to doing this.
“There has been no funding from international organisations, the government has been of little help but more is required from them to sustained the school, more importantly with the current economic situation.”
He appreciated various individuals who had been of great help to the school in terms of food other philanthropic contributions.
Apeh, implored the parents to be part of the completion of the ongoing school building project to accommodate more pupils and students.
He said that the mission kicked off secondary education in 2023, after successfully running primary education for the special children over years.
“They (students) need a befitting classroom and hostels to bring out the best out of them and contribute their quota for the development of the nation,” he added.
Corroborating, Mrs Apeh said there was a significant gap in providing inclusive education for students with disabilities in Nigeria.
She said that there was nothing that the able-bodied could do that the children with disabilities could not do by their training, as they can hear, respond and use their fingers to communicate even faster than the able -bodied.
According to her, the mission does not only impact formal education but also morals through the word of God, as well as vocational skills with practical by professionals “for them to be self-reliant”.
Speaking, Mrs Gladys George, Proprietress of St Gladys Private School and Grimes International College and a philanthropist assured her readiness to continue to help children with such challenges.
“In some cases, many of their parents have given up on them. So, helping them to develop their potential and bring out the best in them is what gives me much joy,” George said.
Mrs Ademosun Olusola, Proprietress of Konsol School, who applauded the centre for helping to make society better, said she was impressed by the performance of the children both in academic and morals.
Earlier Pastor Olugbenga James, the Chairman of the occasion, who admonished the students, said, “there is something giant in you that is designed to make you great. Do not look down on yourself but rather be confident to compete with others.”
One of the parents and widow, Mrs Onyemere Sorochi, who appreciated the school management for standing to help families with special children, said that the centre has relieved her.
Mrs Nosimot Oyetungase Nosimot who have two children in the school (Abdul Oyetungase and Iremide Oyetungase) commended Mr and Mrs Apeh for volunteering to bring out the best out of the children, not minding their challenges
The event featured drama, Bible recitations, professional displayed of pilot, banker, doctor, teacher, vocational skills among others.
