CSO identifies challenges facing inclusive education

LAGOS (Sundiata Scholar) – The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education has identified inadequate funding and poor infrastructure as some of the challenges facing inclusive education in Lagos State.

The coalition’s Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs Stella Francis, stated this in her opening remark at an education summit on Thursday in Lagos. reports that the theme of the summit was: “

Inclusive Education: Leave No Child Behind Protocol.”Francis said it was essential for the state government to improve on policies and practices that support inclusive education in order not to leave any child behind.

She noted that some educators and parents might resist inclusive practices due to misconceptions or a preference for traditional methods.Francis stressed the need for continuous professional development in ensuring that teachers embark on training and support the implementation of inclusive education strategies.“

This involves investing in training, infrastructure, and resources, as well as fostering a culture of acceptance and collaboration within schools and communities.“

There is a need to dedicate budget for inclusive education across the local governments in the state.“Also, by embracing inclusive education, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to a more equitable and just society,” he said.

The state coordinator noted that inclusive education would reduce stigmatisation and isolation of students with disabilities or those from marginalised groups.

Francis explained that the goal of inclusive education was to ensure that every child was fully integrated into the general education system with the necessary support to thrive.

She said: “Inclusive education emphasises the importance of creating an educational environment.“This is where all children, regardless of their abilities, disabilities, socioeconomic statues, or backgrounds, were provided with equal opportunities to learn and succeed.

Also speaking, Dr Hakeem Shittu, the Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Education Board (LASUBEB), said the government would continue to ensure that school-age children, irrespective of tribe, ability and disability have access to quality basic education.

Shittu, represented by the Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation, LASUBEB, Mrs Abosede Ojuri, said the development was the only way to guarantee a brighter future for them.He said this was in line with Gov.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s THEMES agenda, which makes education and technology a key pillar in achieving a greater Lagos.

Shittu said the state government through LASUBEB had taken bold steps to ensure that every child of school age not minding their background and challenges had access to schools.He said: “In furtherance of this, the Lagos State Government is rehabilitating schools and building new ones to provide access and a conducive learning environment.“

The state has also introduced technology to enhance teaching and learning called Eko Excellence in Child Education and Learning.“Recruitment of teachers is done as at when due to fill the vacancies of retired teachers.“

When this is done, the opportunity is given to teachers living with disabilities to teach in our Special Schools and the 35 inclusive centres across the 20 Local Government Areas in the state.”Shittu added that Project Zero was another giant stride of the board introduced to address out-of- school children which had become a global challenge.

He said that Project Zero initiative was launched in 2020 to support children who were on the verge of dropping out of school due to the negative effects of COVID-19.“

However, the need to address the menace of out-of-school children made the board to institutionalise Project Zero which means zero tolerance for out-of-school children.“Since its inception, over 30,000 out-of-school children have been re-enrolled in schools and are supported with starter kits such as school uniforms, bags, sandals, socks and writing materials.“

To keep the indigent children in school, some identified indigent parents of the enrolled out-of-school children are trained in different skills and empowered to support their children’s retention and completion.“

Even as we speak, about 200 of them are currently undergoing skill acquisition training in nine different vocations in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation,” he said.

The chairman thanked the coalition for the initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation and collaboration to give every child the needed quality education opportunity.(NAN)