Mr. Sani Adamu, the Chairman, Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria, Bauchi state Chapter, an NGO, has advocated for the establishment of special education departments in Colleges of Education in the state, for an all-inclusive education.
Adamu, who stated this on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi, added that the departments, if introduced, would produce qualified teachers for proper mainstreaming of persons with disabilities.
Adamu said that the existing special education centres in the state were limited in coping with the number of school age children with disabilities in the state.
“We are advocating for the establishment of special education departments in Colleges of Education.
“This will pave the way for an all-inclusive education and mainstreaming of people with disabilities into public schools. By this, it will improve enrolment.
“Mainstreaming of school children with disabilities will reduce discrimination and stigmatization among peers,” he said.
He also advocated that the schools in the state establish disability friendly clubs that would encourage students from a young age to develop interest in special education.
“Clubs will train and encourage students to develop interest in sign language. It will make them learn, relate and interact with people with disabilities,” he said. (NAN)
