Ekiti Trains 57 Educators in Inclusive Montessori Programme

Ekiti State Government has trained 57 therapists, teachers and special education staff in Montessori methods as part of efforts to strengthen inclusive education across the state.

The seven-day residential programme, held from August 9 to 15 at the Government Special School in Ido-Ekiti, brought together state therapists, inclusive school staff, teachers from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and educators from special schools.

The training forms part of the state’s Inclusive School Project, which seeks to improve access to quality education for children with and without disabilities.

Ekiti Trains 57 Educators in Inclusive Montessori Programme

Speaking during the programme, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Princess Adetoun Agboola, said the initiative reflects Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s commitment to ensuring that children with disabilities receive appropriate support in the classroom.

According to her, Mr Oyebanji became the first governor in Nigeria to establish a dedicated office for special education and social inclusion.

“Children with disabilities sometimes learn differently and require the use of their various senses to understand lessons effectively,” Mrs Agboola said.

She said Ekiti had also become the first state in Nigeria to introduce specially adapted classrooms equipped with learning materials designed around the developmental and educational needs of children with disabilities.

The state runs specialised public institutions, including schools for blind and deaf children in Ikoro-Ekiti, as well as facilities for children with intellectual and physical disabilities.

At the training, Montessori materials received particular attention because of their potential to support multisensory learning. In special schools, the materials are adapted to suit children with disabilities, while mainstream inclusive schools use them in their conventional Montessori form.

The programme focuses on children aged three to eight, including those with developmental difficulties affecting early reading and mathematics.

A facilitator, Mrs Rosemary Aliu, said participants were trained in key areas of the Montessori method, including sensorial education, language, mathematics and cultural studies.

She said the approach could make it easier for young learners to acquire reading and writing skills by allowing them to engage with learning materials through multiple senses.

Some participants said the training changed their understanding of how ordinary materials could be adapted for children with special educational needs.

The state government said the capacity-building programme would strengthen the ability of teachers and therapists to provide more responsive instruction in both special and inclusive learning environments.

For Ekiti, the training adds another layer to its push to make classrooms more accessible to children whose learning needs often require approaches beyond conventional teaching methods.