Education
THE Regalo Hope Foundation (RHF) has charged stakeholders in the education sector to create a cultural environment where every child would feel valued, loved, respected and included in decision-making processes.
Mrs Chinenye Onuorah, Project Manager of the foundation, made the call at 6th edition of the RHF 2024 EduStake Conference held in commemoration of the International Day for Education on Wednesday, in Lagos.
Onuorah said that the call became necessary as inclusive education would go a long way to reduce inequality, social exclusion, discrimination but empower the people to recognise and value their unique abilities.
The theme of the 2024 International Day for Education is ‘Learning for Lasting Peace’.
“ Our chosen theme for EduStake, ‘Uniting for Inclusive Education’, aligns seamlessly with the pursuit of lasting peace, recognising the interdependence and mutual reinforcement of both concepts.
“Inclusive education, which champions diversity and ensures equitable access to quality education irrespective of background or abilities, plays a pivotal role in creating conditions conducive to lasting peace.
“By promoting understanding and tolerance, reducing inequality and social exclusion, and actively engaging in conflict prevention and resolution.
“We firmly believe that true impact can only be achieved by having all students, regardless of their abilities, study together in the same classroom.
“Separating children with special needs from others perpetuates discrimination and undermines creation of an environment where all children feel accepted, normal, and loved.”
She disclosed that the term ‘EduStake’ was derived from the fusion of ‘Educational Stakeholders’ which symbolised a collective commitment to the involvement of parents, teachers/educators, students (both secondary and tertiary), and community leaders.
The RHF Project Manager explained that the EduStake conference served a diverse range of purposes, but primarily aimed to empower educational stakeholders with invaluable insights geared towards enhancing educational institutions in Nigeria.
According to her, the insights disseminated during panel session which featured prominent educational stakeholders have elevate educational institutions in Nigeria through the informed conversations.
“Under the platform of this EduStake Conference, we have equipped educators with knowledge on effective student engagement and coursework comprehension,” he added.
Speaking at the conference, Akhere Akran, an inclusive educator, said there was need for stakeholders’ to rethink, reimagine education and get more awareness on National policy on education for a better Nigeria.
Akran urged the stakeholders to review their school curriculum and settings to align with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs).
She said that the SDGs talked about quality education, inclusive and equitable to integrate all children, adding, ‘ that no child is left behind ‘.
According to her, the awareness is there and with the brainstorm at the panel sessions, I believe that stakeholders are better informed on what inclusive education entails and how it can be implemented.
“It is high time we began to walk the talk, do things to achieve better results because there is so much talk about inclusion out there, and there is a margin between what is said as opposed to what is being implemented.
“Teachers must open their minds to understand to be receptive to innovations, be pathetic enough to understand the diagnosis and prognosis of a child.
“So that we can internationally intervene to make them fit in to mainstream classrooms,” she said.
Meanwhile, Timi Edwin, Founder/CEO, CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, who doubled as a panelist at the event urged educationists to take cognisance of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) saying, “inclusion goes beyond physical challenges.
Edwin, who said lots of children were living with NCD, described it as ‘Unseen Conditions’ and 2nd highest killer of people in the world, adding, ` these are issues like heart conditions, breathing issues and diabetes.
“Some children are living with this unseen issues, they might not have the look but it’s something that requires necessary attention by educators while learning in classroom,” she said.
The event had a panel session where stakeholders in the education and health brainstorm on the way forward.
The highlight of the day was the spelling B and current affairs competitions amongst schools where Havilah High School, Igando emerged winner and carted away N25,000 prize.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 600 students from 32 public/private schools from across Lagos State including special children and educators attended the 6th edition of the annual RHF organised EduStake Conference. (NAN)
T.S
-January 25, 2024 @ 6:23 GMT|
Tags: Chinenye Onuorah
