Punjab Chief Minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi speaking at the inaugural ceremony of new block (Special Children's Heaven at Children Library) here on Tuesday said that Punjab Government had spent substantial resources on the education, training and rehabilitation of special children.
He said that annual budget of special education had been enhanced from Rs 70 million to Rs 1 billion while 117 centres of special education had also been set up in the province.
Elahi said that vocational training institutions were also being established for imparting technical skills to special children. He said that the government would continue its efforts for increasing mental and creative abilities of special children for making them useful and respectable citizens of the society.
Minister for Special Education, Dr Tahir Ali Javed, Minister for Social Welfare, Rai Mansab Ali, Advisor to Chief Minister, Saba Sadiq and District Nazim Multan, Faisal Mukhtar were also present on the occasion. Provincial Minister for Education, Mian Imran Masood also addressed the function while Project Director Rubina Tariq Jillani presented the welcome address.
Pervaiz Elahi said that the programme of education, training and rehabilitation of special children had not been limited to citizens only but education centres were also functioning at tehsil level in the province.
He said that hearing aids, wheel chairs and Braille books were being provided to the special children free of cost while a monthly stipend of Rs 200 had also been given to such children. He said that besides free transport facilities, a packet of milk was also being provided to such children studying at special education centres.
He said that a comprehensive programme had been implemented for the benefit of teachers of special children and they were being given double salary as compared to teachers of general schools so that they could perform their duties with more commitment and dedication. He said that the number of special children of special education schools had increased substantially due to these measures of the government.
Addressing the function, Provincial Minister for Education, Mian Imran Masood said that due to the efforts of the government, the rate of literacy have increased from 42 to 62 percent. He said that a record increase had been made in the educational budget. He said that government was providing academic and other facilities in the educational institutions of special children free of cost.
He said that a new centre had been established for special children by demolishing the dilapidated building beside children library. Project Director Rubina Tariq Jillani in her address of welcome said that rehabilitation programme of special children had been described by the parents of such children as a big achievement of Chief Minister Punjab.
Rubina said that play room, music room, audio video centre, computer centre, Braille library, toy room, soft room as well as special therapy and other facilities of art and craft had been provided at the educational and recreational centres of special children. He said that more than 55 courses were launched for such children.
Earlier, when the Chief Minister arrived at Children Library, special children welcome him at the beat of drums and showered rose petals on him. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed block for special children and visited its various sections. He also talked to the children in the library and inquired about their well-being. The Chief Minister also went to the music class where the children presented national songs.