Obaseki Introduces Skills Acquisition In Special Schools

The Edo State Government has introduced the teaching of skills acquisition in special schools across the state.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, after a guided tour of facilities at Ihogbe College in Benin City, mandated the Ministry of Education to commence the programme to promote enterprise among youths.

The governor disclosed that the Ministry of Education is working on disarticulating Ihogbe College, so as to create junior and senior school levels.

He added that the school is also preparing special children to take classes with regular students at the resumption of academic session in September.

Obaseki noted that his administration is working on a strategic policy decision which the Ministry needs to undertake immediately, adding, “We are here to look at what is available in terms of physical infrastructure on ground, and look at how to fix it into our new design in terms of where we are going in our education policy.

“We are working to see how to take care of the children with special needs in this our disarticulation efforts,” the governor said.

On her part, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, said the skills programme will enable the special pupils to become self-reliant, noting, “In the area of special education, we have been mandated by the governor to introduce skills acquisition in all our special schools across the state when schools resume. This will enable the special students to be trained on life skills that will enable them earn a living even while getting their academic training.

“The state government is implementing a policy to improve the school system in Edo State as the governor will unveil further plans to move the education sector forward on Friday September 2nd, 2022.

“On Monday 29th of August 2022, the Ministry, working with the Post Basic Education Board, will be training 3,000 teachers out of which 1,000 are the newly recruited EdoStar teachers. This is in addition to the already existing 3,000 EdoStar teachers that we got approval from the governor to recruit.”

According to her, the new timetable for the new academic session will provide learning opportunities for Edo Students, adding, “We are sure to see tremendous changes in the education system in the State as the changes will certainly be visible for all to see.