INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION FOR SPECIAL TARGET GROUPS

I would be doing a series on education for some special target groups, these groups are educationally disadvantaged and they need various forms of education to meet the various conditions of existence.

Since the idea of educating the special target groups does not connote the schooling system only, it should therefore be noted that this type of education given or to be given to the educationally disadvantaged groups could be through specialized programmes such as seminars, non-formal education, liberal education, workshops, on-the-job, talks, radio and discussions.

Image source

Image source

Towards socio-economic development, another idea may come to mind by viewing adult education as an education not to be limited to the ability to read and write only, but an education that involves work-oriented and functional literacy towards technical/vocation training development.

The importance of adult education towards the achievement of the National Policy on Education (NPE) in Nigeria cannot be over quantified. Moreso, the government at the federal and state levels should consider the heterogenous nature and terrain of the geographical landscape of the country. Even if education is free in all aspects, saying free meal, free textbooks, free transports etc, it will take time before the normal classroom situation would become a reality. There are many villages and districts in Nigeria today that do not enjoy the proximity of the formal schooling. Some of the young adults that are already in the job, for example the artisans would rather prefer a situation whereby they improve on their technical jobs in their places of jobs than to abandon their work for further studies at distance places to their abode of works.

Education for special target groups comes into play here. With each series, I would put into consideration;
-PRISON EDUCATION
-EDUCATION FOR THE HANDICAPPED ADULTS
-EDUCATION FOR RURAL DWELLERS
-EDUCATION OF THE ILLITERATE ADULTS