Osun Special Needs Schools: IICSD Demands Immediate Reopening, Questions ₦180 Meal Budget

Group urges Adeleke government to address funding crisis, improve feeding and fix infrastructure deficiencies

Insight Initiative for Community and Social Development (IICSD) condemns the continued closure of schools for children with special needs in Osun State, describing it as an unacceptable disruption of their right to education, care and development.

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We urge the state government to reopen the schools immediately and prioritise the welfare of these vulnerable children.

While we welcome the interventions and engagements by stakeholders, whose advocacy has compelled the government to explore alternative funding sources, we believe this development should lead to urgent action, not further delays.

The earlier explanation that the schools could not resume because of the non-availability of local government allocations raises concerns about the government’s commitment to protecting the interests of these students.

Children with special needs should not be made to suffer the consequences of funding challenges or administrative shortcomings. The students are already demoralised by the prolonged closure, which has disrupted their education, social interaction and access to specialised support. Every additional day they remain at home deepens their disadvantage and places further pressure on their parents and caregivers.

IICSD calls on the government to demonstrate the political will to resolve the crisis and establish a sustainable funding arrangement that guarantees uninterrupted school operations.

Funding difficulties must be addressed through proper planning, intergovernmental collaboration and the exploration of available resources, rather than allowing vulnerable children to bear the burden of institutional failures.

We also call for an urgent review of the reported N180 daily meal budget per student. Given prevailing food prices and the nutritional needs of the students, the government should increase the allocation to provide adequate and nutritious meals.

We further urge the government to ensure that students, particularly those in residential facilities, receive three balanced meals daily to support their health, learning and general well-being.

Beyond feeding, the reported infrastructure deficiencies in the schools require urgent attention. Special needs institutions must have accessible classrooms, functional sanitation facilities, suitable accommodation where necessary, assistive learning materials and other essential resources. The government should conduct a comprehensive assessment of the schools and implement a clear, time-bound plan to address these deficiencies.

Inclusive education cannot be achieved by merely opening school gates. It requires adequate funding, trained personnel, appropriate facilities, quality learning materials and an environment where every child can learn with dignity. The government must ensure that the schools are properly equipped to meet the diverse needs of their students and provide the support they deserve.

IICSD urges the relevant ministries, local government authorities, school administrators, parents and disability advocates to work together towards a lasting solution.

The government should also establish transparent funding and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that resources allocated to the schools are properly utilised and that similar disruptions do not recur.

We commend the stakeholders who have continued to speak up for these students and encourage them to sustain their advocacy until the schools reopen and the necessary improvements begin. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of civic engagement and public accountability in ensuring that government fulfils its responsibilities to vulnerable communities.

IICSD reiterates its demand for the immediate reopening and resumption of all affected special needs schools in Osun State, alongside improved feeding, adequate infrastructure and sustainable funding. Government must do things the right way by placing the best interests of these children at the centre of its decisions.

These students deserve more than promises; they deserve immediate action and an education system that gives them a fair opportunity to thrive.

Engr. Kolade Onaolapo