Educationist wants governments to release subvention for special needs pupils

To ensure pupils with living with disabilities receive life transforming education, Proprietress of M.D Schools, Lagos, Mrs. Omolara Adedugbe, has urged government at all levels to release subventions meant for schools teaching children with special needs.

Briefing newsmen in Lagos on the activities lined up for the 30th anniversary of the school, Adedugbe said catering for special needs children requires huge funds, which are invested in the acquisition of special learning aids, gadgets and therapies.

While highlighting that the affected children deserve quality training and life changing opportunities, she revealed that running both normal and special children school programmes for 30 years was indeed a daunting task.

She expressed joy that the school has been able to erase the stigmatization of children living with disabilities, as well as getting parents of the regular pupils to financially support the education of the affected pupils.

She said, ìThere is a subvention meant for schools with special needs units, and we have written severally to the Federal Ministry of Education, and also to the Lagos State government. But all we got were promises. Officials have been here about two or three times, but nothing came out of it. Government has to subsidise because we will continue to have special needs children in the society.

Educating special needs pupils is capital intensive. You need special teachers and there cannot be more than 12 pupils in a class for effective learning. Those with hearing and speech impairment need gadgets for physiotherapy because some of them have fingers that have lost their dexterity,î she explained.

She continued, ìAs we mark our 30th anniversary, we have a lot to celebrate because parents who felt that children with special needs would infect their children in the same school have a better understanding. One of our greatest achievements is that we have prompted other schools to have special needs units. Together we can give these children opportunities to live and enjoy life like the normal children.

In his remarks, a member of the governing council of the school, Mr. Femi Oso, said the school had engaged in social responsibility initiatives such as free medical screening, interschool competition, community cleaning exercises, and a symposium on special needs children, in collaboration with Inner Wheel Club of Gbagada, District 911 Nigeria, as part of programmes to mark this yearís celebration.