The Ministry of Education in Ekiti State has taken a bold step to enhance special education and social inclusion through a stakeholders’ meeting organized by its School Department.
The event brought together principals, education officers, and key government officials to discuss strategies for developing inclusive education frameworks in the state.
Mrs. Rhoda Olufunke Ojo, Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, highlighted the need to create awareness among staff about the challenges faced by students with special needs.
She recounted the inspiring story of a deaf student at Christ School four decades ago, where teachers learned sign language to accommodate the child.
“This session is a reminder of the importance of understanding the needs of all students in our care,” she said.
Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, led the discussions on best practices for supporting students with disabilities. She emphasized the need to foster acceptance of students with special needs within mainstream schools. “Ekiti has made progress, but we must shift from segregated special schools to a fully inclusive model where all children, regardless of their challenges, learn together,” she stated.
Agboola called for participants’ feedback to improve policies, noting that the session was a foundation for a more inclusive educational system in line with global standards.
She assured stakeholders that their contributions would shape the future of special education in the state.
Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kofoworola Aderiye, urged participants to embrace learning additional languages, including sign language, to enhance communication with students.
The workshop reinforced the importance of collaboration between educators, policymakers, and communities to ensure every child has access to quality education in an inclusive environment.