EDUCATING THE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD IN NIGERIA

Introduction

Exceptional children differ from the norm, either above or below, in physical attributes or learning ability to such a magnitude that they need specialized educational services or physical accommodations to benefit fully from schooling (Heyward, 2012). The term is more often used in the special education organization than in medical and psychological settings. It includes children whose performance is superior and who require enrichment of curriculum and more challenging instruction in order to achieve their maximum potential, as well as those with learning difficulties, physical or sensory impairments or behavior situations that require improvement of the education regimen in order to help them learn. The “exceptional” rubric is preferred to terms involving disabilities, impairments or handicaps because it includes gifted and especially talented children. The disabilities or impairments of exceptional children are subsumed by psychiatry and psychology under the category of Neuro-developmental Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Below are different classifications of exceptional children.

·      Handicap, Impairment, Disability, and Disorder

·      Communication Disorders

·      Mental Retardation

·      Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

·      Autistic Spectrum

·      Gifted and Talented

It will interest you to know that less attention is paid to the educational development of these children in Nigeria. You can't count up to 5 centres in each state of the federation, except Abuja and Lagos. Talk more of standard centres with boarding facilities, none! Not even Abuja.

HFU is lending a voice for the education of these exceptional children. Let provide more learning platforms for them.

Amber Amos Luper

Education Director

Hope For Us Charity