Deaf Teachers Association of Nigeria (DTAN), the umbrella body of all Deaf/Hard of Hearing teachers in Nigeria, has come up with ideas on how to deliver improve deaf education in the country.

At the end of its 3rd Annual General Meeting and National Conference/Election held between 21st - 25th August, 2017 at Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State with the theme ‘Assessment of Deaf Education in Nigeria: Missing Links between Theories and Practices’, the Association made far reaching recommendations, including Teaching of science subjects and Language be made compulsory and taught early to build the cognitive and reasoning faculty of deaf learners.

The Association in a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting signed by Mr. Lawrence Idemudia (BOT Representative); Mr. Olaniyi Temitope (NP); Mr. Omopariola Bolarinwa (NSG); Mrs Oyeleke Bernice (NT); Engr. Kabiru Huseini (NPRO); Mr. Taiwo Akangbe (SWDP); Rev. Promise Nwode (SEDP); Mr. Isyaku Hassan Yargoje (NWDP); Mr. Nurudeen Mohammed (NEDP); Mr. Oyibo Emmamuel (SSDP); and Ms. Charity James (NCDP) agreed that “Deaf students at Senior Secondary School level should be encouraged and permitted to make their department choice based on interest and ability not stereotyping them to non-science departments.

“There should be more effective strategies for curriculum adaptation, inclusive education and individualised education plan for deaf learners.

“Policies and Laws should be formulated and implemented to support improved educational provision for deaf students in Nigeria.

“There should be a more effective approach for better collaboration among all stakeholders – parents, educators, policy makers, members of the larger society, and the deaf and hard of hearing population in the society.

“There should be a new Law to compel quality education for the deaf at all stage and spheres of learning beyond the rudimentary.”

DTAN also suggested that it should work with the media in order to effectively dispel the lingering effect of negative stereotyping of the deaf and ignorance of socio-cultural believe of our people.

“DTAN National Executive calls the attention of the Federal and States as well as LGAs Government to offer automatic employment to all qualified deaf teachers and deploy them to teach the various schools for deaf within their jurisdiction as most of these schools are in dire need of qualified teachers.

“There is urgent need to upgrade infrastructural facilities and learning/teaching aids in primary and secondary schools for the deaf students across the country.

“Reporting of conference activities is a necessity and the Secretary General must discharge this task.

“For the purpose of record, all Executives and Zonal Deputy Presidents were mandated to henceforth produce both hard and soft copies of report detailing challenges faced, causes of obstacles and possible way forward to be presented at each subsequent conference of DTAN when giving reports on their zones.

“Amendment to the constitution was made on the section on tenure of officers. Tenure of elected officers was approved to last for Four years as against the previous Two years.

“On election of National officers, members at the AGM agreed that the present executive be dissolved and elections conducted which produced the present National officers and saddled with the responsibilities of piloting the affairs of DTAN for the next four (4) years.”

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