How Veteran Class Room Teacher Built Free School for Children With Disabilities in Kano.
By Hannatu Suleiman Abba
AREWA AGENDA – She is a mother who had faced quantum challenges of raising children suitable for the productive and modest moral standards of society.
Also, just as a teacher would go out of his or her way in making sure his or her students have quality education at their beck and call, this rendered my school, Amina Albasu Special Needs School (AASNS) situated at Jigirya to pick the challenge of in ensuring it provides an accessible education to children in the society.
This was disclosed by Hajiya Amina Ibrahim Albasu during a courtesy and monitoring visit on inclusive Education in Kano state by some representatives of civil society Action for the Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA)Kano state chapter led by the Northwest co-ordinator Dr Auwal Halilu.
While speaking, Albasu said, “I got inspired to start this school in late 2017 on how brilliant children with disabilities are after I visit my hometown at Albasu local Government area for a condolence visit, where I was introduced to some group of out of school children and a boy who has a hearing impairment.
” In the process of our conversation, this got me to see the enthusiasm for education in the eyes of that boy with a disability with the help of a local sign language interpreter in the community.
“I quickly promised to intervene and his parent agree. After my return, I visit Kano’s famous school for special needs at Tudun Maliki to meet Malam Jamilu on how can the boy be enrolled as a student which he gave me some requirements for boarding school students”, she said.
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She continued, “As I return to inform his parents, more children and their parent indicate interest as they see a brighter future angle for their children if they receive sound education unlike how the norms in the rural areas portray, and that is how the journey begins.
” In the community I live, I commence an extra lesson in my house for vulnerable children with disabilities after weeks of research. The children are 4 in number and The number of children, volunteering teachers and my courage to make a way for education for children with disabilities keep increasing day by day.
“Moreover, I rent an apartment before I seek support from the government because I can’t pay those selfless service teachers standard salaries for the job they do. The Government employed teachers at the school and up-till now we work with them as a team.
“Furthermore As time goes on, we are asked to vacate from the school because the apartment is on sales notice. The Students, their parents and I become worried, but with the help of my husband, we purchase the school without any kobo of intervention from outsiders neither the student’s parents.
“Alhamdullahi Now, we have 122 students in the school which include all disabilities cluster (visual and hearing impaired, Autism and cerebral). this makes the school to be unique in the state”, she added.
Hajiya Amina Albasu, however, lamented that The students’ parents through Parent Teachers Association (PTA) suggest to be donating Two Thousand Naira per year to cover some expenses needed in the school.
The students and school need support from philanthropists, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), forums and Individuals to make Education more accessible to them as many of their parents are vulnerable and for a better future in the country.
