• Pilot project being implemented in FDE, Peira schools
• Heads, teachers of schools to be provided training
• Around 35,000 children, persons with disabilities in Islamabad, minister says

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Human Rights on Tuesday signed a letter of understanding with the Directorate General of Special Education and the Private Education Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) on inclusive education for differently-abled children.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister for Human Rights Dr Shireen Mazari said: “It will help mainstream the differently-abled children with mild symptoms in the education and employment sector.”

She said it was important for differently-abled children to attain education in normal schools, which would help them grow in society.

Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said the initiative would provide relief to the parents who were otherwise unable to get their children with mild or moderate disabilities enrolled.

“There are approximately 35,000 children and persons with disabilities in Islamabad. The need is being felt to provide an opportunity of inclusive education to the children having mild to moderate disabilities in public and private schools. Therefore, the Directorate General of Special Education has initiated a pilot project on inclusive education for differently-abled persons in public and private schools in the Islamabad Capital Territory,” he said.

According to the Ministry of Human Rights, the project was planned to be operated in collaboration with the Federal Directorate of Education and the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) to introduce the system of right-based inclusion for differently-abled children for their mainstreaming in normal schools of 50 union councils.

Initially, the pilot project was being implemented in all schools of the FDE and Peira targeting mild to moderate differently-abled persons.

Heads and teachers of these schools would be provided training on inclusive education. Consultative workshops and seminars would be arranged. Almost 5, 000 differently-abled children would be registered/enrolled and 250 teachers of regular schools under the FDE would be provided training. As many as 10,000 parents would also be given counselling and guidance.

The main objective of the project is to attain the goal of mainstreaming the differently-abled children in public and private schools. Other objectives included the creation of awareness and educating the local community besides providing facilities to children with disabilities.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2021