History of Special Education in Nigeria

History of Special Education in Nigeria

Special Education are educational programs and practices designed for students, as handicapped or gifted students, whose mental ability, physical ability, emotional functioning, etc. requires special teaching approaches, equipment, or care within or outside a regular classroom.

Special education is in place to provide additional services, support, programs, specialized placements or environments to ensure that all students’ educational needs are provided for.

Special education is provided to qualifying students at no cost to the parents. There are many students who have special learning needs and these needs are addressed through special education. The range of special education support will vary based on need and educational jurisdictions. Each country, state or educational jurisdiction will have different policies, rules, regulations, and legislation that governs what special education is.

HISTORY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

A child suspected of needing special education support will usually be referred to the special education committee at the school. Parents, teachers or both can make referrals for special education. Parents should have any necessary information/documentation from community professionals, doctors, external agencies etc. and inform the school of the child’s disabilities if they are known prior to attending school.

Public special education began to change in 1975. The National Policy on Education was passed in 1977 and revised in 1981. The policy has a section devoted to special education.

The Blueprint on Education of the Handicapped in Nigeria started in 1989, which established several schools catering especially to those with special education needs. There were also schools established that made it possible for those with special needs to learn alongside those with no special needs. This program also instituted the Consultative Reference Committee on Special Education. Not only does the 1989 program collect statistical data on special needs children and education, but it also implements training programs that prepare teachers to work with these students. Another aspect of the program is that facilities are provided for all levels of special-needs children. There is even a scholarship available through the Federal Ministry of Education reserved for those special-needs children who wish to move on to secondary education. Before the government stepped in at this time, those with special needs were looked after by different religious or voluntary groups, such as the School for the Blind of Gindiri and the Wesley School for the Deaf in Lagos.

Starting in 1994, special-needs children in these government-funded programs have had their performance evaluated.

CONCLUSION

Special education in Nigeria has a fairly short history, only becoming a public concern in 1975. Before the government stepped in at this time, those with special needs were looked after by different religious or voluntary groups, such as the School for the Blind of Gindiri and the Wesley School for the Deaf in Lagos.

REFERENCE

• The neuropsychology of social-emotional learning disabilities MB Denckla – Archives of Neurology, 1983
• Jump up Adolescents with Learning Disabilities at Risk? Emotional Well-Being, Depression, Suicide.DD Huntington, WN Bender – Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1993
• Nigeria Education Fact Sheet (Jan. 2012) Economic Section, United States Embassy in Nigeria.