By Grace Dalla, INN Abuja
Stakeholders at the 2nd National Summit on Deaf Education held on Wednesday, called for collaborations to advance quality education through Sign Language for Deaf children in Nigeria.
The event, hosted by Nigeria National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), was highly graced by stakeholders from Federal Ministry of Education, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), USAID/DeafE3, Disability Rights Fund, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) JAMB, Chairman House Committee on Disabilities, among others with emphases and willingness to collaborate to ensure deaf community are not excluded in deaf education in every sector of learning.
A resource person, Professor Khadijat K. Rashit in her presentation said, deaf education has to be implemented in Nigeria because it is the only language deaf community can understand for that, it has to be a compulsory subject in education sector so that no one will be left behind.
Rashit called upon the Ministry of Education in Nigeria to make education accessible to deaf community just as some countries did for the community of the deaf.
She sought support from individuals toward a deaf child education, and solicit for family members to have access to sign language for easy communication, adding that “educating parents too can change the narrative.”
Also speaking, Mr. Umar Tukur said only the wearer knows where the shoes pinches. He said deafhood is a process by which deaf individuals come to actualized their deaf identity. To this end, state parties shall take appropriate measures including facilitating the learning of sign language and promotion of the linguistics identity of the deaf community.
Tukur emphasised on Audism which is a type of discriminatory thinking as opposite to Sign Language and these discriminatory thinking include; rejection of deaf culture or use of sign language, expectation that individual who are deaf rely on lip-reading.
Temitope Olaniyi and Arathy Manoharan in their presentation spoke on the use of blindgual strategies, hands on learning, adopting lessons to be deaf centric, technology in lesson preparation and classroom. They said deaf education, stories and activities are key as well as using sign language.
Professor Kyaura Ibrahim noted that advancing quality education through Nigerian sign language is key, however without language no objective can be achieved. He said special curriculum is needed for the deaf persons as lack of language leads to insecurity, lack of job, training and lack of education as well.
Ibrahim asserted that American sign language differ from Nigerian sign language but there is need to promote Nigerian sign language because it is the key to deaf education.
He suggested a research by government for the development of indigenous sign language, he also urged government to promote awareness creation across the state regarding indigenous sign language
Dr. Taiwo Monsuru on his part said there’s no meaning without a meaning maker. He called for effectively training of teachers.
According to Monsuru, “Teacher occupied a very prominent position in the society, a teacher was held in high esteemed in the society.”
INN reports that the common goal of all the stakeholders is access to deaf education and efforts are being put in place for indigenous sign language in Nigeria.