'Government focussing on rehabilitation of special children'

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has said the government was taking comprehensive measures for education and rehabilitation of special children.
He was talking to a delegation led by World Bank Advisor on Rehabilitation of Special Children, Judith E Heumann at Chief Minister's House here on Wednesday. Provincial Minister for Special Education Qudsia Lodhi, Principal Secretary Finance Salman Siddique, Secretary Special Education Sohail Masood and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.
The CM said the decision of two per cent quota for special children in educational institutions was being implemented besides special education centres were being set up in all tehsils of the province. He announced that one packet each of milk would be provided free of cost to the students of special education institutions during recess.
He said the government had increased the budget for special education to Rs 600 million and education and transport facilities were being provided to blind and handicapped children free of cost. He said special children are being provided hearing aids, wheelchairs and Braille books free of cost besides, a monthly stipend of Rs 200 was also being given.
He said vocational training institutes were also established for enhancing technical skills of special children and those institutes had already started functioning in Lahore, Chiniot, Kamalia and Ahmadpur Sial. He said the first Degree College of special education set up in Lahore where academic process has been started. He said a comprehensive programme has been initiated for teachers of special children and they were being given double salary than other teachers so that they could perform their responsibilities with commitment and dedication. He said the process of enhancing mental and creative faculties of special children would continue so that society could benefit from their talent.
Provincial Minister for Special Education, Qudsia Lodhi said the system for rehabilitation for special children was being further improved in the light of proposals from the World Bank. She said a programme was also being implemented for the education and training of special children under private-public partnership.
The World Bank Advisor Judith E Heumann said education and training of special children was a very important service and the Punjab government was making commendable efforts in that regard.