From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has introduced a bill for the establishment of Federal College of Education ( Special) in Dukku, Gombe State.
The bill, which seeks to amend the Federal College of Education Act No 43, 2023, is sponsored by the member representing Dukku/ Nafada Federal Constituency of Gombe State, Abdullahi El-Rasheed.
El-Rasheed told Daily Sun that the proposed legislation is informed by the need to establish a College of Education, that will train teachers, who would in turn cater for the education of children living with disabilities.
He explained that there is presently is only one special College of Education, where teachers are trained to cater for students with disabilities, are trained. Consequently, the lawmaker said it is imperative to establish an special College of Education, in the North, to complement the existing one, which is located in the Southern part of the country.
“It is a bill that is meant to amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act number 43 2023, which will enable us to establish a Federal College of Education, Special in Dukku, one of the Local Government Areas in my constituency in Gombe State.
” This institution, we only have one of it in the South West, which is in Oyo- Federal College of Education ( Special) Oyo. It is meant to train teachers that can teach people with special needs. And it is the only school in Nigeria. And having it in the Northern part of Nigeria, specifically in that area.
Already the one in Oyo is overstretched. And you know the percentage of people living with disabilities, they don’t have much teachers. The main reason is to establish that school so that it can complement the other school in the South West of Nigeria, ” El-Rasheed stated.