Special Schools in Lagos State

A special school is one that caters for students who have special educational needs due to severe learning difficulties.

As private people and governments in different parts of the world allocate huge funds to educate and empower their Special People, the Lagos State government is also investing heavily in educating special people in the state in line with its vision not to leave any child behind in pursuit of education.

Government is fully aware of the need to provide equal opportunity and qualitative education for students with special needs to assure them of rewarding future.

At present, there are two categories of special schools in Lagos State:

Special School: This is a school exclusively for special people. It is not meant for regular students. There are five schools of this kind in the State, namely

1.      Wesley school I

2.      Wesley School II

3.      Atunda-Olu Physically challenged school

4.      National Orthopedic Special School, Igbobi

5.      Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare and Treatment Home School, Akoka

Inclusive Unit: This is a special unit integrated into mainstream school. In other words, there is a school for special people inside a mainstream or regular school. There are 38 inclusive Units in Lagos State. Five of them are in Junior Secondary; two in Senior Secondary and the rest (31) are in primary schools.

The five (5) inclusive units in the junior secondary are:

1.      State Junior Grammar School

2.      Lagos State Junior Model College, Agbowa- Ikosi

3.      Ipakodo Junior Grammar School, Ikorodu

4.      Ikeja Junior High School

5.      Methodist Junior Grammar School, Badagry

The inclusive Units in the Senior Secondary are:

1.      Lagos State Senior Grammar School

2.      Lagos State Senior Model College, Agbowa Ikosi

 

 It should be noted that the State Government regularly provides all the special schools including the inclusive units with maintenance and running cost, equipments to aid learning which also serve as baits to attract other children with special needs. In fact, I am a witness to the success story recorded at the inclusive unit in Ipakodo Junior Grammar School, Ikorodu. I was a teacher there when the inclusive unit started; I was later deployed. When I visited the school about a year later, I was amazed at the level of development in the unit. For instance, electronic gadgets, catering, tailoring, and hairdressing equipments have been provided by the State. For me, this is an outstanding performance!

Considering the vision and efforts of the Lagos State Government to make education available for all regardless of physical status, it becomes highly essential for parents to take advantage of the opportunity to get the special people in their custody registered.

We should not undervalue their potentials if given the needed supports. We have had successful people with one disability or the other but they did not allow that situation to rub them off their lively goals. With zeal and determination, they have shown the world that there is indeed ability in disability. The story of John Milton who is reputed to be the most knowledgeable English poet of all time is incredible. He became blind at age 43 but it was after that he wrote “The paradise lost.”

He is one of the greatest and learned English poet of all times.

Other famous people who suffered one deformity or the other include Yinka Ayefele, Stevie Wonder, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Pastor Kumuyi and many others. They achieved what able bodied couldn’t!

 For more information on how to register your children, contact the school Head teacher/ Principals or Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Education.