Proprietress worry over dearth of special teachers

Dr Prisca Nathaniel, the Proprietress of Peace Therapeutic Special School, Obosi in Anambra, says the South-East is seriously faced with the dearth of special teachers.

Nathaniel said in an interview in Umuahia on Thursday that the zone was in dire need of trained teachers for children with special needs.

She said that special children, by virtue of their disabilities, face numerous challenges that require special attention from trained teachers.

"We need more trained, special teachers because they are lacking here in the southeast.

"We have more of them in the South-West and that is why therapeutic schools are thriving over there.

"I encourage people to study special education in the university and not just studying it but try and get training from a functional school," she said.

Nathaniel, whose school specialises in children with intellectual and learning disabilities, also called for the establishment of more schools for such children in the zone.

She solicited for support for special schools from government, groups and individuals.

According to her, special schools are more expensive to operate than the conventional ones.

She said there were over 50 students in her school, adding that two special teachers were usually assigned to a class of five students for maximal attention.

"Our major challenge is finance and if the government can support the feeding of these children, give us monthly subvention, it will reduce the burden on us and their parents," Nathaniel said.