The Department of Special Needs Education of the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has trained over 150 teachers in Special Needs Schools across the State.
The Commissioner in the Ministry, Abayomi Arigbabu, disclosed this while declaring open a Capacity Building Workshop held in Abeokuta, with the theme: “Understanding the Implementation of Inclusive Education Strategies For Supporting Diverse Learners And the Role Of Assistive Technology Integration In Special Needs”.
Arigbabu stressed that the training was another demonstration of the government commitments to people living with disabilities.
He maintained that the Abiodun-led administration has placed high importance on special needs education by increasing the complimentary meals of the learners by over 120 percent, supplied wheelchairs and white canes for students mobility as well as resuscitated the braille book production centre.
The commissioner also noted that the present administration had not left the five special needs schools behind in the area of infrastructure interventions, as they were adequately supplied with furniture, modern toilet facilities, renovated and constructed buildings.
He, however, charged the teachers to be empathetic, supportive and help learners become the best they can be.
” I’m charging our teachers in the special schools to be empathetic, to be highly supportive and help the learners to realise that they can be a highly respected citizen of this great Nation,” Arigbabu admonishes.
In her remarks, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mrs. Oluwatosin Oloko said the purpose of the workshop was to improve teachers’ skills in the 21st Century teaching methodology in dealing with children of special needs.
Earlier in her address, Director of Special Needs Education, Mrs. Deborah Ogundimu, noted that the programme would help all the participants to have deeper understanding of the principles of inclusive education, improve strategies for diverse learners on the areas of their needs, abilities, as well as understanding how assistive technology could enhance learning and accessibility for students with disabilities.
Two of the participants, Mr Oluomo Soyoola and Mrs Grace Oresegun, appreciated the Governor for supporting their course by organising a credible workshop to increase their skills in dealing with pupils with special needs.
