Education sector experts have called for an end to discrimination against children with special needs in primary and secondary schools across the country, emphasizing inclusive education for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

This call was made at the Annual Conference on Inclusive Education in Abuja, organized by the British Council. The conference reiterated the need to apply political will and funding to the national policy for inclusive education.

The conference, whose theme was “Bridging the Gap between Inclusive Education Policy and Practice,” brought together current and former education commissioners from across the country.

Citing statistics from the United Nations Population Fund, the experts noted that about 32 million people in Nigeria, including children, live with some form of disability and face different types of discrimination.

They say this includes the inability to integrate normal learning with other students into the classroom.

Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, said: “Together we can bridge the gap between policy and practice and move towards a truly inclusive education system. »

Former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Folashade Adefisayo, said the key is to implement the elements of these proposals. She said: “The federal and state governments should work together, be prepared to listen and adopt this policy, and provide funding for it and not just put it in the budget.

Rather than specialized schools for blind or deaf-mute students, experts sought an integrated, unified classroom experience for all.