Special is Unique, Until You Are in School: An Anecdote of Nigeria’s Inclusive Education System

Abstract

Inclusive education is a process of enhancing the capacity of the education system in any country to reach out to diverse learners. The practice anchors on the notion that every child should be an equally and mutually valued member of the school culture. In other words, children with disabilities benefit from learning in a regular classroom, while their peers without disabilities gain from being exposed to children with diverse characteristics, talents, and temperaments. With Nigeria, much of the debate regarding inclusive education has remained theoretical and speculative, and has not translated into adequate inclusive educational opportunities for persons with disabilities -visible and non-visible. The basis of inclusion is that special needs pupils have a right to the benefits of a full school experience, with needed modifications and supports alongside their peers without disabilities who receive General Education. For the child with a disability to benefit optimally from inclusion, it is imperative to have an accommodating and efficient system, effective collaboration with special educators, as well as with General Education teachers who can teach a wider array of children, including those with varying disabilities.