By Bashir Mohammed Kano
Th e federal government, in collaboration with the Kano state government, has moved against discrimination of students with disabilities. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 62nd National Council on Education (NCE) meeting at Affi scent Hotel in Kano yesterday, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Alhaji Husaini Adamu, said the meeting was to an approach to that would remove barriers that prevents pupils’ full access to education. Adamu said the theme of this year’s meeting titled “Inclusive education; creating quality learning opportunity for all; implication for currency in education in Nigeria” was aimed at addressing the marginalisation of students with disabilities from those without disabilities. “It is about the child’s right to participate and the school’s duty to accept the child. Inclusion rejects the use of special schools, and classrooms to separate from students with disabilities from the
tudents without disabilities. “Premium is placed on full participation by students with disabilities and their social, civil and educational rights. Full inclusion does not distinguish between special education and general education programmes, instead the school is restructured so that all students learn together,” he said. Earlier, in his remarks, Deputy Governor of Kano state, Prof. Hafi z Abubakar, said the state government had developed a draft policy document on inclusive education, adding that it was gradually creating enabling environment that ensures every child has access to education. Abubakar, represented by Special Adviser on Education, Dr. Bakare Ado Hussain, said the policy of inclusiveness complimented all other existing policies.
