Although, the Punjab government was leaving no stone unturned to bring about qualitative change in the field of special education, yet it fully realised the onerous responsibility of educating the special children.
Provincial Minister for Special Education, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, stated this, while speaking at the inaugural session of a four-day consultative workshop on `Special Education Standards in Punjab` here at Defence Club on Friday.
The minister maintained that the special education department enjoys a unique status with regard to the fact that its developmental budget is much more than that of the non-developmental budget which is a candid proof of the fact that the larger part of the annual budget of the department is being spent on the education and training of special children.
Owing to provincial government keen interest and the sense of responsibility, the annual development budget (ADB) for special education was being increased gradually. He said that it augured well that Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was paying attention to the education of not only the normal children but to the special children as well.
That was why he was very keen to raise the annual budget for the special education department, he added. Dr Tahir Ali Javed further pointed out that it was impossible for any government to take all the matters pertaining to the education of children specially that of special children, in its hand and yield encouraging results.
He called upon the private sector and NGOs to give a helping hand to the government in a field like special education. He expressed faith that if the government and the private sector paid attention to the education and training of special education realising their responsibilities, there could be no reason that those ignored members of the society might become the productive and responsible citizens.
Earlier, Special Secretary Education, Sohail Masood, Punjab Devolved Social Sector Programme Consultant, Dr Tawwab Khan and Director PDSSP, Abdullah Sumbal also spoke on this occasion.