Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) is striving to provide barrier-free education facility to special children in normal schools through its inclusive education project.
Deputy Director, Inclusive Education, DGSE, Zia Afzal Baig told APP on Tuesday that the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are being provided assistance devices including Braille books, enlarge glasses and hearing devices to continue their studies in normal school rather establishing separate schools for disabled children.
It is appreciating that some private schools including Kingston School, Abbotabad and other in Karachi have started inclusive education in their schools. The model institutes in federal capital has provided accessibility to all the necessary facilities required for the special children including wheel chairs, reeling, western washroom facility and others.
The Deputy Director said the DGSE has launched pilot projects on inclusive education in 14 normal education schools at four provincial headquarters, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Islamabad, Turbat and Mirpur Khas. However, National Inclusive Education Plan has been sent to the planning commission that was referred to Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP). The projects will be launched in 37 cities across the country soon after its approval.
Zia Baig said that three seminars have been arranged on national level to train hundred of teachers to impart quality education to the special children. He informed that Agha Khan and Karachi University has initiated diploma courses in inclusive education. DGSE is working on a string of projects to facilitate disabled persons especially those living in the far-flung areas.
The projects of DGSE include National Institute for Special Education (NISE), Vocational, Rehabilitation and Employment for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Vocational Training Centres for Disables, National Library and Resource Centre, National Mobility and Independence Training Centre, National Braille Press and Inclusive Education.
The other functions and services of the Directorate General of Special Education included assessment, diagnostic and referral services, provision of personal aids and appliances, specialised services for hearing assessment, language development and speech therapy, physiotherapy, Braille and mobility training, academic and education services, training in arts and crafts, curriculum development, model library facilities and field research.
He said DGSE has been established in 1985, as an attached department of Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education with the objective of helping the persons having any kind of disability.