UBEC moves to integrate sign language training in ALL basic schools

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is pushing to institutionalise the teaching of sign language across all basic schools in Nigeria to foster inclusive education.

Aisha Garba, executive secretary of UBEC, spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child.

At the event themed “Lead a Change: Learn Sign Language Today,” Garba highlighted sign language integration among the commission’s inclusive education initiatives.

The UBEC boss revealed that a policy had been instituted to make the teaching and learning of sign language a norm in all basic education schools.

“Imagine a country where hospitals, banks, supermarkets, airports, and schools have sign language interpreters, then you will have a system without communication barriers for our hearing-impaired children,” she said.

“That is the vision we are working towards, one school, one change at a time.”

Graba said UBEC’s school policy now mandates accessibility structures such as ramps to ensure that children with physical disabilities move with dignity and ease.

She also noted that the commission, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), is investing in teacher training and digital learning tools tailored to the needs of children with special needs.

The executive secretary also reiterated UBEC’s stance on child safety, announcing that bullying had been banned in all basic education schools.

She added that child protection mechanisms were being reinforced to ensure schools remain safe spaces for learning and personal growth.

“No girl should suffer in silence or face abuse, especially one with reduced ability to cry out,” she stated.

Corroborating UBEC’s position, Suwaiba Ahmad, the minister of state for education, called on stakeholders to remove barriers to learning and ensure that every girl has a voice and equal opportunity to thrive.

Ahmad commended UBEC for its efforts in expanding programmes in inclusive learning and ensuring that all Nigerian children have access to free, compulsory, and quality basic education.

She also stressed that sign language must become a key tool in bridging communication gaps within classrooms across the country.

“Sign language is a bridge, not a barrier. It connects minds, shapes friendships, and unlocks futures,” the minister said.

“We must train more interpreters, integrate sign language into teacher training curricula, and equip classrooms for visual-gestural communication.”

Ahmad further called for policy alignment, coordinated funding, and synchronised programmes across all levels of government to ensure that girls, especially those with disabilities, move seamlessly from primary education to higher levels of learning and vocational training.

She, however, acknowledged the persistent challenges many girls still face, including poverty, stigma, and safety concerns, while urging continued collective action to dismantle these barriers.

“While progress has been made, many girls still face obstacles,” she said.