Ekiti State Enhances Inclusive Education with Two-Day Teacher Training Initiative

News Update

In a significant stride towards promoting inclusive education, the Ekiti State Government has launched a two-day training program for teachers from both special and mainstream schools. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Adolescent Girl’s Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Office of the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion.

The training commenced on January 31 at the Government Special School for the Blind in Ikere-Ekiti and will run through February 1, 2025. This program has seen 130 educators, including participants from Ekiti Parapo College in Ido Ekiti and Babatope Memorial High School in Ikoro Ekiti, engage in specialized sessions designed to enhance their teaching capabilities.

To ensure that mainstream teachers work effectively with secondary students from special schools, 60 educators from these schools were specifically invited to participate in the training. This initiative aligns with the unique educational arrangement in which secondary students from the Government Special Schools attend regular classes while residing as boarding students in the special schools’ hostels. Specifically, secondary students at the Government Special School in Ikoro attend Ebenezer Babatope Memorial School, while the students from the Government Special School in Ido are enrolled at Ekiti Parapo College. This inclusive approach ensures that secondary students have access to quality education alongside their peers in regular classrooms while still receiving the specialized support they require.

The theme for the workshop is “Technology-Driven Lessons and Inclusive Teaching Strategies,” which underscores the Ekiti State Government’s commitment to integrating students with disabilities into regular classroom environments and ensuring they receive the quality education they deserve alongside their peers.

As articulated by Princess Adetoun Agboola, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, this initiative aligns with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s vision for advancing inclusive education. “The teachers need to measure up in terms of their practice, what they offer, and the experiences they give the children. That’s why we are engaging them in this capacity-building exercise,” Agboola noted, emphasizing the importance of equipping educators with the necessary skills for effective teaching in inclusive settings.

The training emphasizes two crucial areas: adapting technology for students with disabilities and developing inclusive teaching strategies. Participants are being exposed to innovative teaching tools to create a technology-driven learning atmosphere in classrooms.

A total of 40 educators from each of the three special schools in Ekiti State participated in the training, while an additional ten teachers were randomly selected from mainstream schools to ensure a wider impact. This collaborative approach aims to cultivate a more inclusive educational framework across the state.

Beyond the training sessions, Agboola highlighted ongoing public enlightenment campaigns aimed at combating the stigmatization and discrimination faced by persons with disabilities. Such advocacy efforts are crucial for fostering a more inclusive society that values diversity and promotes belonging for all students.

Mrs. Yewande Adesua, the Project Coordinator for AGILE, commended Governor Oyebanji’s dedication to improving the welfare of persons with disabilities. She noted that continuous investment in teacher training and educational infrastructure is essential for long-term progress in special education in Ekiti State.

This capacity-building training is part of a broader commitment to strengthen the inclusion policy and sustain high-quality education for secondary students with disabilities in the region. This two-day program marks a significant step forward in ensuring that all secondary students, regardless of their abilities, have access to effective and inclusive education in Ekiti State.

Photos of the event…

The capacity-building training is part of a broader commitment to strengthen the inclusion policy and sustain high-quality education for students with disabilities in the region. This two-day program marks a significant step forward in ensuring that all students, regardless of their abilities, have access to effective and inclusive education in Ekiti State.

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