By Ngozi Nwankwo
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, has made five recommendations to the
JAMB-Equal Opportunity Group(JEOG).
The SSA, who was represented by the Director of Media and Communications, Mr. Lanre Oloyede, disclosed this at the first African Regional Conference on Equal Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Abuja.
He stated that the recommendations were to ensure that equal access to education is not just a vision but a reality for every Nigerian, including persons with disabilities.
Hon. Isa said strengthening the process of data collection and analysis to ascertain the level participation of PWDs in education was essential for effective policy-making. He, therefore, enjoined JEOG to collaborate with the NCPWD and academic institutions to develop a robust system for tracking educational outcomes for PWDs with a view to ensuring that interventions are data-driven and targeted.
Other recommendations by the SSA included the expansion of partnerships with the private sector in providing scholarships, internships, and employment opportunities for PWDs.
He also charged JEOG to synergise with the Federal Ministry of Education to
Promote inclusive curriculum and teacher training, noting that it is crucial that educators are trained to teach inclusively.
Furthermore, the SSA advocate enhanced accessibility in examinations and learning materials with a view to leveraging on new technologies that can further ease the examination process for students with disabilities such as online proctoring tools and adaptive learning platforms.
The need to develop regional alliances and networking for inclusive education was also canvassed. In this wise, JEOG was mandated to take the lead in creating a regional network focused on sharing of best practices, funding opportunities, and research that promotes inclusive education for PWDs.
He assured the participants of President Tinubu’s administration unwavering commitment to PWDs stressing that education remains the bedrock upon which inclusive societies are built.
He further pointed out that the theme for the conference “Advancing the Potential of Persons with Disabilities in Educational and Economic Development” echoes a cause deeply rooted in justice, fairness, and humanity.