From Bode Durojaiye, Oyo.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamdi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, has called on the Federal Government and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to, as a matter of utmost concern, give adequate consideration to the upgrading of Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, into a
full-fledged university.
Alaafin said education should be seen by the government as a basic human rights and the foundation for a more just and equal society, which implies adequate funding to meet the target goals and objectives for equalizing learning for all pupils, including those with disabilities.
The paramount ruler made the call on Friday when the management of the college, led by its Provost, Professor Usman Layiwola Kamarudeen, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.
The visit was in appreciation of the monarch’s son who is a member of the House of Representatives (Oyo Federal Constituency), Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi, who moved a motion on the floor of the lower legislative chamber for the upgrading of the college into a university.
The motion, which was applauded by the House, led to the constitution of a special committee to liaise with the NUC on modalities for the upgrading of the college into a university.
Oba Adeyemi argued that the college, which was established about 35 years ago, has contributed immensely towards the training of several thousands of children with special needs
and integrating them meaningfully into the society.
The first-class monarch also argued that one of its contemporaries, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State, had since been upgraded into a full-fledged
university.
“The National Education Policy document, among other things, calls for access of special needs children, with their varying abilities to education in conducive and less restrictive environments, as well as the education of such children to enable them to achieve self-fulfilment. Thus, the inclusive education paradigm in Nigeria (like that of other countries) has evolved out of the realisation that all children have the right to receive the kind of education that does not discriminate on the grounds of disability, ethnicity, religion,
language, gender, or capabilities.
“Low-income countries like Nigeria are now becoming cognizant of the gross inequalities in educational opportunities for their special needs populations. This is understandable given that less than 10 per cent of these children currently have access to any type of formal or
non-formal education. Yet, Nigeria as well as other countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia have, in principle, adopted several international protocols that seek to promote equal access to appropriate quality education as enunciated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), the World Declaration on Education for All (1990), the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disability (1993), the UNESCO Salamanca Statement for
Framework for Action (1994), and the World Education Forum in Dakar (2000).
“Section 7 of the revised National Policy on Education (2008) explicitly recognises that children and youths with special needs shall be provided with inclusive education services. The commitment is made to equalise educational
opportunities for all children, irrespective of their physical,
sensory, mental, psychological or emotional disabilities. Undoubtedly, these are lofty goals intended to improve the quality of special education services, but much more is needed to translate the goals into concrete action. There is also the urgent need to develop in the entire citizenry, a strong conscientiousness for education and a strong commitment to its vigorous promotion’’.
Alaafin, who expressed satisfaction at the performance of the college so far, urged the new Provost to re-dedicate himself for the progress and development of the college, as well as the challenges ahead.
Earlier in his address on behalf of the Provost, the College’s Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Tajudeen Opoola, who lauded the intellectual sagacity and sense of commitment of the monarch’s son, described it as unprecedented.
Opoola said the college has what is required of a university status, such as structures, human and non-human resources, adding, what is needed is the political backing and royal support.
He commended the role of the Alaafin in the progress of the
institution in particular and the country as a whole.
Oba Adeyemi later presented a CD copy of Adeniyi’s motion for upgrading the college into a university, on the floor of lower legislative chamber, to the Provost.
