HOPE FOR THE VILLAGE CHILD FOUNDATION TASKS GOVERNMENT ON CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN KADUNA
"Parents Appeal For Government Support; Give Our Children A Chance To Acquire Knowledge".
"Every Child Deserves To Be In School"... Michael Ogundele Babayara
"Every Child Deserves To Be In School"... Michael Ogundele Babayara
Across Nigeria, many children with disabilities, especially those with "special needs" in the society, have faced segregation, discrimination and in many instances, ostracization with no one to cater for them and their needs.
Hope For the Village Child Foundation, a Non Governmental Organization based in Chikun Local Government of Kaduna state, has taken up the challenge to cater and provide educational/health related awareness for children with special needs in the state, particularly, those within its immediate environment.
Penultimate week, parents of children with special needs were invited by the team from Hope for the Village Child Foundation, HVCF to discuss and forge ways at which children who have such challenges are enrolled in schools in order to acquire the needed educational advancement they so desire.
Among those invited were the Education Secretary from Chikun Local Government, Dr Ibrahim Danmariya, and the Councilor of Education, Hon. Shedrack David and Dan Ishaya who took out time to assuage the minds of parents of Children with Special needs.
Mr. Michael Ogundele Babayara, Project Coordinator for the "World Ring A Bell Day" and staff of the HVCF, disclosed that the theme of the programme is self explanatory but also noted that, with the Ring A Bell Day which is a global event, "no child should be out of school" and this includes children in the rural communities.
Babayara reiterated every child has the right to go to school without discrimination which is the focus and vision of the "Ring The Bell" project and as such, no form of disability should deprive any child from securing admission into school and therefore, called for collaboration with all partners in progress, for these children to gain education.
"The disabilities of the physically challenged children should not be a criteria for discrimination, isolation or segregation and stigmatization of any sorts", Babayara stated.
Dr. DanMariaya, in his brief address, disclosed that the Kaduna state government was particularly interested in setting up schools across the state that would provide for such children even as he enjoined the parents not to despair even as he noted that the state government, under the leadership of Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai already has in place, a work plan for children with special needs.
According to Dr. DanMariaya, "the state governor is a man of action and would do everything possible to see that all children in the state go to school and attain the level of education they so desire".
"We feel the pains of these parents as they have narrated their encounters while trying to secure admissions for their wards", he said.
Mr. Michael Ogundele Babayara, Project Coordinator for the "World Ring A Bell Day" and staff of the HVCF, disclosed that the theme of the programme is self explanatory but also noted that, with the Ring A Bell Day which is a global event, "no child should be out of school" and this includes children in the rural communities.
Babayara reiterated every child has the right to go to school without discrimination which is the focus and vision of the "Ring The Bell" project and as such, no form of disability should deprive any child from securing admission into school and therefore, called for collaboration with all partners in progress, for these children to gain education.
"The disabilities of the physically challenged children should not be a criteria for discrimination, isolation or segregation and stigmatization of any sorts", Babayara stated.
Dr. DanMariaya, in his brief address, disclosed that the Kaduna state government was particularly interested in setting up schools across the state that would provide for such children even as he enjoined the parents not to despair even as he noted that the state government, under the leadership of Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai already has in place, a work plan for children with special needs.
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| Dr. DanMariaya and Hon. Shedrack |
According to Dr. DanMariaya, "the state governor is a man of action and would do everything possible to see that all children in the state go to school and attain the level of education they so desire".
"We feel the pains of these parents as they have narrated their encounters while trying to secure admissions for their wards", he said.
Dr Dan-mariya promised to inform the chairman of Chikun LG about the challenges faced by parents in getting school that will accept the children.
Speaking with Naij News Alert, Mrs. Mary Sunday who came with her 5 year old son, lamented the stigmatization against her son by age mates and even other parents, describing her ordeal and challenges as very traumatic.
Mrs. Sunday stressed that, "children with such special needs, did not ask to be born in this way and same applies with other children with such challenges".
"My child is 5years old, yet he cannot walk, eat by himself or go to toilet by himself. I have to do all these for him", she revealed but still believes that all hope is not lost.
"My child is 5years old, yet he cannot walk, eat by himself or go to toilet by himself. I have to do all these for him", she revealed but still believes that all hope is not lost.
She lamented the challenges encountered while trying to enroll him in school as the teachers refused to accept him, giving flimsy excuses such as the lack of needed facilities to take care of children with special needs.
"Every child deserves to get education, why is ours different? Did we ask to have such burden? As parents, we have to stand by our children and help them, they are been ostracised at home by neighbours, family members and now even school have refused to accept them. This is too much", she wailed.
Other parents present at the event pleaded with the local government and state authorities to come to their aid by setting up educational centres and schools with the right facilities, equipments and personnel staff for children with special needs as obtainable in other states.
While speaking to the parents and government officials, the actibg Director of the HVCF, Rev. Sister Juliana Ekwoanya thanked all for their presence and support, enjoining them to remain strong despite the challenges they are facing, noting that the HVCF will continue to be available to them at all times as always.
Sister Ekwoanya thanked everyone present and encouraged the parents and theit media partners not to relent as all are equal in the sight of God Almighty
Sister Ekwoanya thanked everyone present and encouraged the parents and theit media partners not to relent as all are equal in the sight of God Almighty
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