National Policy on Inclusive Education (NPIE 2017)

What Is This Policy?

The National Policy on Inclusive Education (NPIE) commits Nigeria to removing all barriers to education participation — ensuring every learner, regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, religion, economic status, or other marginalised characteristic, has the right to quality education in mainstream learning environments rather than segregated special schools.

Who Does It Target?

Children and adults with physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities (estimated 25+ million Nigerians) Learners excluded due to poverty, gender, language, ethnicity, religion, albinism, or other marginalised characteristics Out-of-school children, IDPs, street children, and child labourers requiring re-integration into education Teachers and school administrators responsible for creating inclusive learning environments

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Guarantee every Nigerian learner's right to quality education in a mainstream setting — with the system adapting to learners, not the reverse Transform special schools into inclusive resource centres providing specialist outreach support to surrounding mainstream schools Train all teachers in inclusive education methodologies, assistive technologies, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles Close Nigeria's massive disability education gap: 90% of children with disabilities currently have no access to basic education

Key Features

Mainstream-First Principle: All children enrolled in mainstream schools by default; special schools repurposed as resource and support centres for mainstream settings Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Accessible classrooms, Braille materials, sign language interpretation, and adaptive technologies in all public schools Individualised Education Programme (IEP): Mandates personalised learning plans for learners with significant needs — with parental co-development Gifted Learner Inclusion: Explicitly includes gifted and talented children — providing enrichment, acceleration, and curriculum compacting in mainstream settings PLANE Programme Support: UK FCDO-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria's Education (PLANE) — active 2021–2026 in 10 northern states Community Sensitisation: Mandatory public campaigns to reduce disability stigma and foster inclusive community attitudes towards education

Current Status

The policy has been active since 2017 and is being implemented to promote inclusive education across Nigeria.

Legal Framework

The National Policy on Inclusive Education operates under the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004. It aligns with the National Policy on Education, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the UNESCO Salamanca Statement on Inclusive Education.