By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
OWERRI – The South East Deaf Women Association has raised the alarm over alleged insecurity, sexual abuse, poor learning conditions and inadequate educational facilities in schools for Deaf children across the region, urging the governments of the five South-East states to take urgent action to protect vulnerable pupils.
The association made the call following its advocacy visits to special education institutions across the South-East as part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child, observed globally on October 11.
In a statement signed by its South-East Zonal Women Leader, Mrs Maria Chidimma AlufoZ-Ekpo, the organisation expressed concern over the deplorable conditions in several institutions, particularly the safety of Deaf girls residing in school hostels without adequate security arrangements.
The schools identified in its advocacy report include the Special Education Resources Centre, Owerri; Special Education Centre, Orlu; Special School for the Deaf, Orji, all in Imo State; Special Education Centre, Isulo, and institutions in Onitsha, Anambra State; as well as the Special Education School for the Deaf in Enugu State.
The association also drew attention to the educational challenges facing Deaf children in Ebonyi and Abia states, calling on both governments to establish adequately equipped public schools and boarding facilities for Deaf pupils to improve access to inclusive education.
One of the most disturbing concerns raised by the association is the reported absence of functional security arrangements in several Deaf schools, leaving pupils, particularly girls in boarding facilities, vulnerable to intruders, criminal attacks and sexual violence.
According to the organisation, the absence of perimeter fencing, security personnel, night guards and adequate lighting exposes the children to serious safety risks.
It further alleged that some Deaf girls have suffered rape and other forms of abuse involving unidentified persons and suspected intruders who gain access to school premises.
The association warned that the communication barriers confronting Deaf pupils make it particularly difficult for victims to call for help or alert others during emergencies.
Beyond security concerns, the organisation identified unsafe and unfinished buildings, dilapidated classrooms and inadequate learning facilities as major obstacles to quality Deaf education.
At the Special Education Resources Centre, Owerri, and the Special Education Centre, Orlu, it raised concerns about pupils learning in unsafe and incomplete structures, describing the situation as a threat to their safety and academic development.
The association also highlighted the absence of school buses for day students, forcing many Deaf pupils to trek long distances to and from school.
It warned that communication difficulties, social stigma and the risks associated with travelling without adequate support have exposed some children to road accidents, disappearance and other dangers, with reports of fatalities among affected pupils.
The organisation stressed that the challenges confronting Deaf girls are compounded by their vulnerability as both children and persons with hearing disabilities, particularly those living away from their families in boarding schools.
It consequently called on the governments of Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states to provide adequate security personnel, perimeter fencing, streetlights and functional surveillance arrangements in Deaf schools across the region.
It also demanded urgent renovation of unsafe classrooms, completion of abandoned school structures, provision of school buses and improved boarding facilities to guarantee the safety and welfare of pupils.
The association further urged the state governments to recruit qualified sign-language teachers, provide accessible learning materials and strengthen inclusive education policies to ensure that Deaf children receive the same quality of education and opportunities as their hearing counterparts.
Specifically, it called on the Ebonyi State Government to establish public schools dedicated to Deaf children, while urging the Abia State Government to establish properly equipped government-owned Deaf schools with adequate hostel facilities.
The South East Deaf Women Association maintained that the protection of Deaf girls must go beyond annual commemorations and public declarations, insisting that governments must translate commitments to children’s rights into practical interventions.
Signed by Mrs Maria Chidimma AlufoZ-Ekpo, the organisation emphasised that security, accessible education and the protection of vulnerable children are fundamental rights rather than privileges.
It urged the five South-East state governments, education authorities, security agencies and relevant child-protection organisations to urgently investigate reported cases of abuse and address the institutional failures exposing Deaf pupils to danger.
The association warned that without immediate intervention, many Deaf children, particularly girls, would continue to face avoidable risks in environments that should ordinarily guarantee their protection, education and future.
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