FG seeks inclusive education for disadvantaged children

The Federal Government of Nigeria has urged the implementation of an inclusive education system that caters to girls, children with disabilities, and learners affected by displacement, insecurity, and migration. Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa'idu Ahmad, emphasized the necessity for education programs to be tailored to the requirements of disadvantaged learners to guarantee that no child is barred from acquiring knowledge.

During the International Conference on Nomadic and Alternative Education Approaches in Africa, Ahmad presented her concerns at the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria in Kano. She highlighted various challenges, including poverty, household responsibilities, safety issues, poor sanitation, and limited access to female teachers and mentors, that hinder girls in underserved communities from receiving an education.

Ahmad called for enhanced community involvement, more secure learning environments, support for girls to continue attending school, and opportunities for those who have dropped out to return.

Furthermore, she appealed to the government to ensure that alternative education facilities, learning materials, digital platforms, and assessment arrangements are accessible to children with disabilities. Ahmad stressed the importance of investing in teacher recruitment, professional development, and instructional materials, especially for nomadic and alternative education programs.

She urged federal, state, and local governments to allocate sufficient funding for alternative education and stressed the need to maintain these programs beyond individual projects and funding cycles. Ahmad also invited participants at the three-day conference to generate practical recommendations on policy coordination, flexible learning models, teacher development, and sustainable funding.