Examination of Parental Attitudes Towards the Education of the Physically Challenge Children in Argungu Local Government of Kebbi State
Chapter One
Objective of the study
This research project is designed to achieve the following objectives:
- To examine the role of parents in providing education for physically challenged children in Argungu Local Government of Kebbi state.
- To identify children’s physical challenges in Argungu local government of Kebbi state.
- To determine the types of negative attitudes parents and community members developed on physically challenged children towards their education.
- To find out the social problems/challenges of education of the physically challenged children in Argungu Local Government of Kebbi state.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Definition of Physically Challenged Children
A child (plural: children) is a human between the stages of birth and puberty. The legal definition of child generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority. The United Nations convention of the rights of the child (2005) defines child as “a human being below the age of 18 years’’. Biologically, a child is generally anyone between birth and puberty or in the developmental stage of childhood.
A physically challenged child may be defined as a child who has disabilities of locomotors and neurological origin which constituted disadvantages or restrictions in one or more aspects of daily life activities. It may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory and emotional type. The disability may be congenital or acquired.
Oxford dictionary defines disable as people with a permanent illness or injury that makes it difficult for them to use part of their body completely or easily. Also, the child rights act Law (2006) defines a child as person who has not attained the aged of eighteen (18) years. The physically challenged children are under age that need to be nurtured and assisted to overcome physically, emotionally and mental challenges to develop into responsible adults.
The convention of the rights of people with disabilities 2006, defines persons with disabilities to include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and affective participation in society on equal basis with others.
The convention of the rights of the child (CRC) adopted in the year 1989 is the first international treaty that contained a specific reference to disability, its article no 23 which dedicates itself the same concern explained that: “state parties recognized that a mentally or physically disabled child should enjoy a full and a decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity promote self-reliance and facilitate the child’s active participation in the community” (Art: 23CRC).
The Nature of the Physically Challenged Children in Nigeria
It is considered that around 150 million children in the world live with a disability 80% of them are living in developing countries. Most often these children do not receive necessary treatment and most of them are discriminated. Impairment in young children need to be reviewed in the disability process, which if not addressed properly, leads to other problems and so many complexes as the child grows. Planning of rehabilitation of such type of child at local level should consider quality and care required accordingly for different types of disabilities.
Specialist in the field of special education has tried to group the physically challenged children in accordance with their disabilities. These include: mental retardations, physical impairments, speech disorder, visually impaired, hearing impaired and behavior disability. Each of these categories of disability required special attention based on his disability.
According to 2006 National Population Census in Nigeria, more than 10% of children are living with disabilities. Condition of physically challenged children in the country attracts little or no attention and because of this, the rights of the disabled are often violated excluded and neglected in planning and national development. Children with physical disabilities need care, love, protection and special infrastructure to survived in challenging environment. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, they are unprotected and exposed to abuse, discrimination, ignored, stigmatized and exploited by families and society. In most cases, family members see disabled children as shameful creatures that are destined for doom. Consequently, most of them roam the streets for alms or are used to beg for alms.
In Argungu Local Government of Kebbi state, the situation is the same. The observation shows that, more than 80% of the physically challenged children are from poor family and majority of them are not attending the school. Most of the parents in Argungu Local Government of Kebbi state use the physically disability of their children as money making venture by involving them in street begging instead of educating them or giving them vocational training in order to be self-reliant.
Historical Development of the Physically Challenged Children Education in Nigeria
Nigeria is a federation of thirty six states with a federal capital territory in Abuja. It has altogether 774 local government and is divided into six geo-political zones. A survey of the Nigerian education scene reveals a series of disparities. There is disparities between urban and rural schools, and between schools owned and control by the federal government and those owned and control by the states and private agencies. Gaps are also observed between male and female enrolments, and between admission figures and available teaching resources. Rapid expansion of the education system at all levels, compounded by rapid policy changes and the shrinking economy, have constituted constraints to educational development in the country. The reduction of annual foreign earning has resulted in the reduction of expenditure on social services, education not exempted.
Special education in Nigeria has a fairly short history, only becoming a public concern in 1975. Before the government stepped in at this time, those with special needs were looked after by different religious or voluntary groups such as the school for the blind of Gindiri and the Wesley school for the Deaf in Lagos.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
In this chapter, the researcher presents the methodology and design of the study. The researcher will also look at the research design, population of the study, sample and sampling techniques, research instrument, validity and reliability of the instruments, procedure used for data collection and method of data analysis.
Research Design
Mwana (1981) defined research designed as a term use to describe a number of decisions which need to be taken regarding the collection of data before ever the dada are collected. It therefore means preparing a mental plan or scheme for solving research problems in a systematic manner within the circumstances of the researcher.
The researchers decided to use descriptive research design, as it describes event just as they are without any manipulation of what is been observed (Nworgo, 2005). This research, as a descriptive survey, is aimed at collection of data for the purpose of describing and interpreting existing concision, prevailing circumstance beliefs and attitudes as regard to the examination of parental attitudes towards the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of kebbi state.
Population of the Study
Population refers to the entire group or area that the research is concerned with. This research is concerned with the examination of the attitudes of parents towards the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state. The population of this research is therefore all parents of the physically challenged children and other stakeholders. These categories of people are all involved in this research and therefore serve as population in this research.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
This chapter carries presentation of the data collection from the respondents through the administration of questionnaire and interview and the analysis of the data gathered as well as the discussion of the findings.
Questionnaire distributed to the parents of the physically challenged children in the sample area of Argungu local government of Kebbi state
Out of the one hundred questionnaires distributed to the respondents, 92 of them were successfully completed and returned as scheduled while 8 of the questionnaires were not returned, therefore, the data presentation and analysis of each question were based on the number of questionnaires completed and returned.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This chapter deals with the summary of the findings, conclusion and recommendations based on the data collected, interpreted and analysed for the purpose of investigating the attitudes of parents towards the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state.
Discussion of the findings
From the ongoing presentation and analysis of data, we have seen various responses from the respondents on all the question asked. Based on the available data obtained, it is obvious that the ages of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government in Kebbi state ranges from 1-5 years and 5-10 years as shown in question 2 under demographic information where they represented 40% and 30% respectively. It has also been discovered that majority of the physical disability of the children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state is deafness because it has the highest frequency of 41% as shown in research question one above. Others disabilities blindness (22%) mental retardation (17%) others (20%) are presented in the table.
The data presented also made it clear that majority of the physical disability in Argungu local government of Kebbi state is caused by diseases/sickness because it has the highest frequency of 46%, genetic problems, malnutrition, accident and others carry 33%, 11%, 9%, and 2% respectively as shown in question 2 under research questions. It also shown in the data presentation in research question 3 none of the respondents was happy when he receive the news that his child become physically challenged as it represent 0% in the table, while 61% of the respondents were not happy about their children’s disability. 8% were fairly happy and 30% were shocked with the news.
The analysis of the data presented indicated that majority of the parents of the physically challenged children did not take them to school due to one reason or the other as shown in research question 4 where 59% of the respondents explained, while 41% of them enrolled their children in schools. The data also made it obvious that some parents prepared formal education (45%) and some are interested in other kinds of training / education (22%) as shown in the research question 5.
We have also observed that most of the parents of the physically challenged children (67%) did not receive any assistance from any organization or agency for the education of their children, while others (38%) have received little assistance. We have also realized that financial constraints is the major problem encountered by parents in trying to provide education for their physically challenge children as majority of them are from poor family as shown in research question 6. Some of the problems like emotional (13%) time and energy waste (16%) frustrations (22%) have lower percentage than financial problem with 49%. The data presented also made it clear that the physically challenged children do not receive the same treatment from their parents like other normal children and this highly affect their lives negatively. The questions asked in the questionnaire also shows that neglecting and rejecting the physically challenged children lead them to be isolated (35%) confused (13%) disintegration (19%) and hopeless member of the society (33%) as shown. In the research question 9 of the presentation and analysis of the data.
From the data gathered in an interview with the stakeholders, it is shown that the education of the physically challenged children is very important in the society and they should be treated equally as their normal children. This would give them opportunity to play their role as members of the society. They also advised that the contribution given by the government of Kebbi state to education of the physically challenged children should be increased. They also said that the parents who are closest to the physically challenged children should give them appropriate care and provide opportunity for them to be educated. Stakeholders also advised that the education of the physically challenged children should be the responsibility of all members of the society and thus, all members of the society should contribute to reduce the level of illiterate to physically challenged children. This would make them useful members of the society in Argungu local government of Kebbi state.
The data collected from the parents of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state from the interview clearly indicated that majority of the physically challenged children were being marginalized within the society as they were not enjoying the love and care from the society as their fellow normal children. It has also been discovered that majority of their parents do not want to take them to school instead they send them for begging. That is not justices to them as members of the society.
From what has been said so far in the data presentation, analysis and discursion, all the statements made by majority of the responses and advice by the stakeholders should be used in recommendations.
Conclusion
From the findings in this research through the administration of questionnaires, interview and observation it has been discovered that none of the parents of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state was happy about his child’s physical disability. The research also found out that majority of the parents could not take their children to school either for poverty, negligence or ignorance of the importance of education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state.
It has also been discovered in this research that only few parents of the physically challenged children have received contributions from government, non-governmental organizations or philanthropists to educate their physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state. The research further confirmed that the Kebbi state government concern and contribution to the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state was not enough to cater for the their needs
Moreover, it has been discovered in the findings of the research that the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state do not receive the same treatment with normal children from their home, community and even in their school as they were been marginalized and look down upon. The findings from the interview with the stakeholders show that if the physically challenged children were given enough opportunity to be educated, they will contribute greatly to the development of Argungu local government and the society at large.
The finding also revealed that the importance of the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state and the larger society cannot be overemphasized. It has also been discovered that if they were given the some opportunity to education as their normal children counter parts, the society would achieve political, economic, social and technological developments.
In view of this, the result from the analysis of the research questions (stated in chapter one) of this study revealed the following:
- The study revealed that the parents of the physically challenged children are the central figures in the education of their children. They should provide equal opportunity for their physically challenged children with their normal children. It has also been revealed that the government efforts were not enough and thus, the Kebbi state government should provide free education for the physically challenged children in Argungu local government and the state at large.
- The physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state were unprotected and exposed to abuse, discrimination, ignored, stigmatized and exploited by families and society because most of the families see them as shameful creatures that are destined for doom. Consequently, most of them roam the streets for alms or used to beg for alms instead of going to school to receive education.
- It has also been discovered in the findings that the physically challenge children are facing the problems of discrimination and lack of recognition in their families, schools and the society which affected their lives especially in terms of education. it was discovered that the problem could be solved if the physically challenged children are given their rights according to the provision of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1989 and African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in 1999 as well as the provision of other bodies about the rights of the physically as requires to education.
- The study also revealed that majority of the physically challenged children are from poor families who could not afford to take care of their children’s necessary needs especially education. it has also been examined that majority of the physical disability of the children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state were deafness and blindness that are caused by sickness, genetic problems, malnutrition and accident.
Recommendations
The following are some of our recommendations concerning investigating the attitudes of parents towards the education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state based on the findings of this research:
- The education of the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state requires all major stake holders such as government, individuals, corporate bodies, civil society organization, NGOs and the media to make concerted efforts to drum up support for the education of the physically challenged children. This will help them to live equal and protected life just like other members of the society as entrenched in Nigerian constitution and various international conventions which the country is a signatory to.
- Parents should not discriminate against their physically challenged children but love them and give them necessary care because if the parents do not give love and care to them, it can expose them to evil.
- The parents of the physically challenged children should not be ashamed of having such children because, God, the Almighty gave them to you, so love them and gave them necessary care and education in order to fulfill your parental responsibility and make them responsible members of the society.
- The government should make a law against any maltreatment and discrimination of the physically challenged children and anybody who maltreated such children must be seriously punished in accordance with the law.
- The education of the physically challenged children in Nigeria including Argungu local government of Kebbi state should be made free at all levels of education and allowances should be given to them at regular intervals. This would encourage them and their parents towards their education.
- There is strong need to provide special schools and training centers for the physically challenged children in Argungu local government of Kebbi state and the country at large.
- Materials should also be provided in abundance for the education of the children in accordance with their various kinds of disabilities.
- It should be made compulsory that every parent must take his physically challenged child to school and any child of school age who is seen outside street begging, his parents must be summoned before the law.
- The physically challenged children themselves should be hardworking and beer in mind that disability should not prevent them from achieving their aim with a view to make their parents and the society proud.
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