The Special Education Center in Mutum-Biyu is facing a severe crisis, with Deaf students turning to begging and laboring for food, despite increased government funding for feeding and operational costs.
In a statement released by Jafar S. Adam said a recent visit to the school revealed alarming conditions. Deaf students, visibly hungry and dressed in their school uniforms, were found laboring in the local market during school hours. When questioned, they responded through sign language, explaining, “We are hungry; we have to work to get food! There is not enough food in school and nothing in the classroom.”
These students, deprived of proper meals and forced to fend for themselves, often resort to waiting near restaurants for leftovers, mimicking the behavior of Almajiries. The situation has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many students dropping out due to the lack of adequate food.
The state government had announced additional funding to improve feeding and running costs for boarding schools. However, the conditions at the Special Education Center suggest a significant mismanagement of these funds. The school administration and the State Board of Education have yet to provide a clear explanation for this discrepancy.
This neglect raises serious questions: Where is the allocated funding going? Is the state government failing to provide the promised funds, or are they being misappropriated?
The plight of these Deaf students highlights a broader issue of accountability and transparency within the education system. Urgent action is needed to address this humanitarian crisis and ensure that all students receive the nutrition and support they deserve.
Public outcry is growing, with calls to #fixtarabadeafeducation and #TarabaDeafEducationMatters gaining momentum on social media. Stakeholders, including Governor Agbu Kefas and Commissioner Augustina Godwin, are urged to intervene and rectify this dire situation immediately.
The future of Taraba’s Deaf students hangs in the balance, and it is imperative that the authorities take swift and decisive action to safeguard their well-being and education.
