Introduction
In 2016, about 7 million children were reported to be out of school because of their inability to access primary education due to disability state according to vanguard news. The design and management of primary and secondary schools in Nigeria are reportedly non-inclusive and inaccessible to children with disabilities. The article reported that 7 million children make up more than 50% of over 10 million children out of school in Nigeria. Education is a basic need and right for every child. It is supposed to be available to every child regardless of their physical or social limitations. Therefore, the introduction of inclusive learning in the classroom is a necessity and not just a minor additional feature in the policies governing the management of schools in Nigeria.
This article aims to discuss the importance of inclusive education in the classroom. It will define inclusive education, features and ways to include inclusive education in the classroom and the benefits of inclusion education.
Defining Inclusive Education
Inclusive education means students with diverse and different learning and physical abilities staying in the same classroom to learn side by side. It is the act of placing students in age-appropriate general education classes in schools available in their immediate environment that gives access to high-quality instructions, interventions and assistance to meet up primary academic curriculum irrespective of any challenges they may have. Educators need to recognise the fact that children with disabilities have equal capacities to learn and perform optimally as their age-mates that are without limitations. These children are therefore supposed to be part of all educational activities in their classrooms and within the neighbourhood. Such activities include excursions, academic debates, student government, sports and other related activities.
