A sum of Rs 400 million has been allocated by the Punjab government for training and education of special children to make them a viable part of the society.
This was announced by Provincial Minister for Special Education Qudsia Lodhi while addressing a press conference at Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club here on Wednesday.
"At present, we are running 49 different institution under Special Education Department where more than 4,200 special children are being provided education and different skills to make them useful citizens of the society", she said.
She said that the provincial government had allocated Rs 100 million for the renovation of the buildings of the special education schools and the salary of the teachers would be increased by 100 percent.
The minister said that there was only one scheme regarding the special education in the last year's annual development plan (ADP), while this year there were six schemes of Rs 38 million in the ADP, which was showing the commitment of the government regarding this important sector.
The government, she said, had approved a stipend of Rs 200 per children.
Special children were an important part of the society and they needed special care and attention, the minister said, and added that once these children were given attention, they would become a useful part of the society.
Once these special children were given a thought that they were handicapped, this would have negative impacts on their mental and physical health, she said.
Praising the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi in education sector, the minister said that with the devoted efforts of the chief minister, the provincial government had overcome various problems.
"The chief minister has laid a special emphasis on education as he is well aware of the fact that without having proper education, the nation could not attain the desired goals of development and prosperity", Qudsia Lodhi said.
She said that the government was providing free training and education to the children.
"They are being provided free education, free vocational education and training, free transportation, free teaching instruments, boarding and lodging, free uniform, shoes and Braille books, free hearing aids, medical aid and support material and instruments," the minister said.
She said that these special children were being taught the special curriculum formulated especially for them.
Talking of free vocational training, the minister said that special children were being given training in wood works, tailoring, carpet weaving, typing, computer, chair making and music.
Teachers, she said, were being given special training for these children, and added at present, three teacher-training institutions were working in the province to give proper training to teachers about special education.
"There is need of proper commitment and devotion among teachers and without having commitment, a teacher could not train or educate special children properly", she said.
She said that as a result of the hard work of the teachers and trainer, Pakistan blind cricket team won the World Cup, besides winning 87 medals, including 43 golds, in Dublin Special Olympics.
Comments
Comments are closed.