The Founder of the Ingawa Fellowship Forum (IFF) and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategy to the Governor of Katsina State, Mustapha Samaila Ingawa, has taken steps to address the worsening condition of deaf education in Ingawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The Deaf School in Ingawa was established during the administration of Labaran Magaji to reduce educational inequality and provide learning opportunities for deaf children in the area. At the time, the school reportedly received support through the provision of uniforms and other learning materials aimed at improving the education of children with hearing impairments.
However, the school later suffered years of neglect after the administration ended, resulting in a decline in student enrollment and severe hardship for teachers. Some teachers reportedly resigned and relocated to southern parts of the country in search of better opportunities due to poor welfare conditions. Support previously provided to some teachers through monthly allowances was also discontinued, leaving them with little financial assistance.
The situation recently escalated when teachers embarked on a strike over the abandonment of the school, raising fears that the institution could shut down completely. Stakeholders warned that closure of the school would deprive deaf children in surrounding communities of access to education, especially as the nearest major deaf school is located in Malumfashi, where many families cannot afford transportation and living expenses.
Following discussions with the school coordinator on the challenges facing the institution, Engr. Mustapha pledged to provide monthly allowances for teachers to encourage them to continue teaching. He also promised transportation support for deaf pupils from remote villages to enable them attend classes regularly.
In addition, the IFF founder revealed plans to support the school in securing registration with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and transforming it into a full Special Education School that will cater for children with different disabilities, including the deaf, blind, physically challenged, and intellectually disabled.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Ingawa Fellowship Forum to inclusive education, Engr. Mustapha stressed the importance of ensuring that no child with a disability is denied access to quality education due to neglect or lack of support.
Coordinator of the PWDs Department of Ingawa Fellowship Forum, Ibrahim Tukur, commended the intervention and described it as a major step toward improving educational opportunities for persons with disabilities in Ingawa Local Government Area.
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