KARACHI, May 29: The Sindh government is thinking of reassuming administrative control over special education institutions at present working under the local governments.

Sources in the provincial education department say the government wants to conectrate on government-run special education institutions in the province in order to improve their condition.

There are about 20 institutions, mostly run at the school-level, with a total enrolment of about 600 throughout the province. However, these institution are not up to the mark because of various impediments.

“Though the situation has not been ideal in past too, the quarters concerned do feel that deterioration in the functions of government-run special education institutions, now under the administrative control of district governments, has reached an alarming stage,” said another source.

Equipments supplied to these institutions some years back for use by students are still lying as dumped in different places.

“The gadgets meant for students, which included hearing aids also, have become useless for technical reasons,” added the source. These instituions stand in need of equipmqnts, adequate funds and trained staff. The Sindh education department has proposed bringing these schools under one umbrella.

“They may be brought back under the administrative control of the provincial government by making necessary amendments to the rules,” said a source.

It has also been proposed that an advisory board for the disabled be constitute at the provincial level to advise the government on immediate and long-term measures, institutional capacity building and interaction with persons and institutions, including those from the private sector.