The government said persons with disabilities will benefit from the state government overseas scholarship scheme as long as they possess the requisite qualifications.
The State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa disclosed this on Thursday.
According to the Commissioner, “It is part of the current administration’s policy to ensure fairness and equal access to education for every indigene of the state, in line with international conventions.”
“We will surely offer scholarships to those with First Class and Second Class Upper degrees, including those with disabilities, to encourage them to become productive citizens and live meaningful lives.”
Doguwa disclosed this while responding to comments made by officials of Mercy Corps and Coalition of Disabled Self Advocacy Network Group, two non-governmental organisations, who jointly visited him in his office.
He said, “The government will also explore the possibility of establishing inclusive schools in parts of the state, even as the 5opportunity will also be explored to provide inclusive facilities in existing public schools.
“This is to make sure that people with disabilities are carried along in our development plans.”
He stressed that, as part of the determination to support PWDs, the state government recently offered 150 NECO examination registration forms to them, urging beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity to ensure better living standards.
The Commissioner promised that the state government will not relent in partnering with NGOs to improve the welfare of the people, urging development partners to key into the administration’s policies and programmes, to ensure sustainable results.
Earlier, Nafisa Amadu Abubakar, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Mercy Corps and some representatives of physically challenged persons, urged the state government to support the organization to conduct a peace-building programme in the state and ensure that the PWDs are not left out of the government’s developmental plans.
In a related development, Doguwa assured that the state government would collaborate with development partners, to address the critical education needs of the state, especially in teachers’ professional development, girl-child education, education for vulnerable children, and access to digital education.
The Director, Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Education, Ameen Yassar, said the Commissioner gave the assurance, while receiving the founder and Executive Director of DBEGOTIN Educational Foundation, Mr. Jeremiah Oseni, who visited him in Kano.
