By our Reporter
As the world globally celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the theme “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 world”,a Lagos based Non Governmental organization(NGO),Human Development Initiative,(HDI), has called for the review of the policy document on Inclusive education.
The Policy when reviewed will enable the country and Lagos in particular achieve the Sustainable Development Goal four, which says all child has right to qualitative, free and compulsory Basic Education.
According to a commemorative statement signed by the Executive Director, HDI, Mrs Funso Owasanoye, said with the advert of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is crucial that the global education community, including national governments take concrete actions to recommit themselves to honouring the United Nation’s commitments and mobilize all available resources to deliver on SDG 4.
Mrs Owasanoye also called on the Lagos State government and the Lagos State House of Assembly which is currently working on the 2022 Appropriation Bill to make disability issues visible by ensuring that all budget areas address disability challenges in the State especially for the education sector.
She also advocated the recruitment of more teachers with special needs skills as a way of progressively promoting inclusive education.
HDI also wants the Lagos State Government to make special provision especially transportation, housing for teachers posted to rural and hard-to-reach areas of the State and ensure that school infrastructure, facilities and surrounding are accessible to children with disabilities.
The international day for persons with disabilities is celebrated annually on December three and the theme for this year is Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post Covid-19 world.