NIGERIAN SPECIAL NEEDS EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: A REALITY OR MIRAGE?

Abstract

Education is a complete developmental package that facilitates positive changes in society. Special need education also aids the integrated participation of learners with special needs, disabilities, and talents. Although there have been prominent issues with special need education in Nigeria in the early 2000s such as low awareness, funding, and non-availability of a standardised national policy; this paper investigates the successes and concerns with special need education in recent times. The level of implementation of the National Policy on Special Needs Education, 2015 was also investigated. The adopted secondary method of data collection, interpretive research philosophy, and inductive research approach aided in the modification of existing theories and findings. Data collected are analysed using thematic analysis. Findings showed that SEN has enjoyed some level of success such as increased awareness about special needs, partnership with international communities, and improved digital literacy; it is still struggling with funding, policy implantation, poverty, and parental participation.