Summary Speakers at the convention were of the view that a lack of acceptance existed at every level of society for people with disabilities. Photo: Reuters
(Web Desk) – Participants at a convention on education for children with special needs called on elected representatives to take notice of the absence of facilities and learning aids for children with special needs in government schools.
Hosted by Aga Khan University Hospital in collaboration with Alif Ailaan, the convention on Thursday brought together organisations to discuss the problems that exist in the current education structure.
Representatives from Alif Ailaan, STEP, IDEAS, Down Syndrome Club, LABARD, Milestone, Dr. Nelofar Halai from ACELP, Dr. Kulsoom Ghias and Dr. Laila Akbarali from AKU, among others attended the convention.
The organisations working on disability rights for children demanded that measures be taken to make education inclusive for differently-abled children.
The speakers at the convention gathered to sign a Charter of Demands titled ‘Right to Education - Children with Disabilities’, according to a statement issued on Thursday. The charter demanded a minimum reform agenda focusing on three major policy areas including the absence of children with special needs from the implementation of Article 25-A in the Constitution of Pakistan that guarantees provision of free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years.
Other demands included the absence of advocacy measures for differently-abled children in the education manifestos of political parties and policy challenges associated with the inability to differentiate between different special needs and grouping all physical and learning disabilities together when it comes to teaching in Special Education schools.
The charter also demanded a policy re-evaluation pertaining to flawed data regime on education.
"All Pakistani children have a right to education. Children with special needs are no different. The state needs to do away with the welfare model and ensure that all children are given their right," said Salman Naveed Khan, Convener of Pakistan Alliance for Maths and Science.
Ayesha Waheed of Down Syndromes Club said that in places where parental support was provided, attitudes of teachers and students inside classrooms was significant in determining the progress of the children with special needs.
Irum Mumtaz of IDEAS suggested that early diagnosis tools must be used to aid education and health providers to assist in identifying needs of differently-abled children. Mumtaz called on the need for inclusive learning in all our schools and for training teachers who instruct children with learning disabilities.
Speakers at the convention were of the view that a lack of acceptance existed at every level of society for people with disabilities.
