Inclusive Education in Nigeria: Challenges and Options

Abstract

Inclusive education stands for improvement of schools in all dimensions to address the educational needs of all children (those with special needs inclusive). Recommendations to send children with special needs to mainstream schools were proffered. Despite this, the change has been slow with segregation in special schools dominating the scene. The article reviews the issues about inclusive education and outlines several option about inclusion. Needless to say the fact that teacher education remains a very weak link with respect to equipping teachers to be prepared for an inclusive classroom for management. The teacher education diploma and degrees offer “introduction to special education as compulsory course in order to prepare teachers to identify and diagnose disability. Thus it gives them holistic perspective with respect to deal with diversity or challenge negative attitudes. Hence, the article reviews the nature of inclusive education, challenges and options in Nigeria.