Deaf teachers seek employment in Lagos

As Lagos plans to recruit more teachers, the Nigerian Deaf Teachers Association has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to employ people with special education certificates. The Secretary General of the association, Abiodun Balogun, made this known in a statement on Thursday. The Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education, Mrs. Abosede Adelaja, earlier this month had announced the plan, saying it was to strengthen service delivery in the education sector. According to her, the state will employ 1,300 teachers to teach Mathematics, English as well as other core subjects. However, NIDETA has implored the state government to recruit deaf teachers for all special schools and inclusive units in the state. ADVERTISEMENT Commending the state government for its support to education, Balogun said employing qualified deaf teachers would ensure the educational development of deaf pupils in the state. “The association wishes to commend the state government for being very accommodating and responsive to the educational advancement of deaf and hard of hearing pupils. This has been demonstrated through the establishment of special schools and inclusive units in all local government areas. “However, the said plan to recruit 1300 teachers was silent on applicants with special education certificate, particularly those who are deaf, “he stated. The Head of Department, Adeyemi College of Education (Special), Dr. Tola Odusanya, in the statement also noted that rather than lower the academic expectations for deaf pupils, the system and teaching methods used in teaching them need to be upgraded.
SOURCE; PUNCH