The executive secretary, Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Alhaji Aliyu Haruna Yakasai, Tuesday expressed gratitude to Sightsavers, an NGO that has rolled out an inclusive educational programme, which brings physically challenged children to study together with normal children, under the same condition.
Alhaji Aliyu stated this during the closing ceremony of the programme, and donation of 48 tricycles to the 8 inclusive Pilot Primary Schools in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state, during the week.
The secretary noted that many NGOs have come up with good programmes but at the end, they always leave with their materials, which marks the end of everything and no result achieved.
He noted with satisfaction that Sightsavers have provided teaching and learning materials to ensure the success of the programme, with the promise that Kaduna state government will continue from where the NGO has stopped.
Earlier in a remark, the director ,Programme Operations Sightsavers, Dr Joy Shuaibu, stated that Sightsavers decided to introduced inclusive education programme in Kaduna state by selecting 8 pilot primary schools in Jema’a local government area to enable disabled children have a sense of belonging as they were put together in the same class with other normal children where they are trained together.
Dr. Joy added that a curriculum was developed where teachers in the selected area were trained to handle the programme successfully, in addition to doing a lot of capacity building to train children with disabilities.
While expressing happiness that the way the children displayed their talents at the closing ceremony of the programme was an indication that the programme has been a success, she commended the School Based Management Committee (SBMC) for their role in ensuring the success of the programme.
In his remarks, the Emir of Jema’, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu, who was represented by the Wakilin Gabas, Alhaji Usman Ibrahim, appreciated the NGO for giving the disabled children an opportunity to acquire education through learning and playing with other children.
He appealed to the Kaduna state government to continue from where the NGO has stopped so the aims and objectives of the programme are achieved.
Also speaking at the event, the Education Secretary, Jema’a local government area, Mr Dogara Thyen Dogara Audu, expressed gratitude to God for his local government being selected for the pilot programme.
