Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government will evolve a comprehensive policy for providing education and training in various skills to special children so that they could become useful citizens and play their due role in national development.
He was addressing a seminar regarding welfare of special children, arranged by Special Education Department, here on Friday. Special Assistant to Chief Minister Begum Zakiya Shahnawaz, provincial secretaries, representatives of non-governmental organisations associated with the education and rehabilitation of special children and social workers were also present.
Addressing the seminar, he said the policy of allocation of two percent quota in government jobs for the disabled will be fully implemented so that they could become self-reliant. Setting up a steering committee for evolving a comprehensive and meaningful policy framework for the welfare of special persons, he directed that the committee should evolve a consolidated roadmap for the betterment of special persons with the collaboration of welfare organizations and others concerned and submit its recommendations within two weeks.
According to him, special children can be rehabilitated through their proper education in a favourable environment. Punjab Education Endowment Fund should also provide scholarships to special children for meeting their educational expenses. Similarly, vouchers should be given to the deserving disabled children for free education under education voucher scheme of Punjab Education Foundation.
He said the disabled children are not a burden on the society and they can be rehabilitated through education and necessary training. Therefore, he said, Special Education Department is providing free education and other facilities to special students in the province. He directed that speedy progress should be made for the setting up of a state-of-the-art institution in the provincial metropolis for rehabilitation of special children.
The Chief Minister said free education and training in information technology and vocational skills is being imparted to 17,000 needy youth in South Punjab with the cooperation of UK's Department for International Development and disabled youth should also be included in this programme.
Similarly, he said, special children should be included in the various training programmes of TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council. The speakers presented various recommendations regarding a comprehensive policy of rehabilitation of special persons. They also expressed the view that the concept of inclusive schooling should be promoted in the province as it would provide an opportunity to the special children to study with the normal children for removing social disparity.
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