Lawmakers called on the Federal Ministry of Education to implement global standards in rebuilding the country's education sector.
This is as MPs called on the federal government to promote and implement policies that strengthen inclusive education.
Lawmakers who made this call during Thursday's plenary session adopted a bill titled “There is a need to introduce global standards for national policies on education.'' The bill was sponsored by Moshood Oshun.
While some experts emphasize the need for skills acquisition, educators are calling for a review of the national educational curriculum to meet the diverse needs of students.
Mr. Oshun, who represents Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in Lagos State, while leading the debate, stressed the need to prioritize special needs education that caters to the individual needs of students and people with disabilities.
He said the national education policy calls for adhering to global standards to improve the education of children with special needs and promote inclusive access and a less restrictive learning environment. That's what it means.
This he cited in Article 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which states that “Government shall direct its policies to ensure equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.'' “It shall be deemed as such.''
“Current practices of NPE in public schools continue to fall short of existing global standards due to insufficient qualified staff, learning materials, software and equipment such as braille devices, audiometers, auditory steady-state response devices, and mobility devices. and special facilities for students with special needs.
“The House recognizes that the ignorance of special education laws and policies by many people, including educators and parents, creates gaps in implementation and leads to ineffective support for students with special needs. “I am concerned about this,” he added.
The House of Representatives urges the Federal Department of Education to begin fully implementing the National Education Policy on Special Education and ensure that children and students with special needs have adequate resources to provide a learning environment in public schools. requested that it be made available.
It also required the Disability Commission to investigate the lack of implementation of the national policy on special needs education to ensure prompt implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.
