PESHAWAR
Inclusive Education though it is a known concept in Western World but in our community; it is a rare concept and our educationists always think about curriculum, methodologies and literacy rates enhancement but unfortunately a group which may be called special children, physically disabled or mentally challenged are not addressed.
When we claim “Education for All” then how can we neglect special children in our Education and School System, is a question that needs to be answered.
There is no such mechanism with the Education Department to address the issues of special children. They have mental issues, psychological problems; behavioural issues, physical challenges, whether our formal teacher can handle them.
The answer is no. No physiotherapist, no behavioural therapists in our school system. All such children are either at home or unable to be educated with normal children, leaving schools a burden for parents and the society.
Over 10 – 15% of the population is disabled, then 3 – 4% of special children; while keeping them out of the school system. How can we claim; “Education for all”?
Our private and public schools while enrolling hundreds of children cannot provide a special environment and above mentioned specialists for ten or twenty special children. It needs commitment; which is rare.
There is a concept of Special Education Institutions in the country which was initiated by the President Zia ul Haque (late); being her own child as special or mentally impaired.
He launched 36 of such institutions throughout the country but even then they are not fruitful because in special education schools, such children are kept in segregation and they are of inferiority complex, not any interaction with the normal children, so they may behave abnormal throughout their life.
For them, the expertise is also not available like qualified physiotherapists, psychologists etc. Social inclusion and rehabilitation are not encouraging in these special schools.
Being an expert in rehabilitation of disabled, in the year 2016, initiated First Inclusive School in Peshawar with the name of Khushal Bagh Public School, Warsak Road, wherein 22 special children were enrolled with 250 normal children, said Dr. Mahboob, Chairman Habib Physiotherapist Complex and Mehboob Medical Institute.
“We have included the services of physiotherapist, psychologist, speech therapist and special educator in our school by providing a special environment and necessary tools,” he said. It is the first ever school in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a very successful model; where the special children are rehabilitated and behave like the normal children, he informed.
It is a great success; the children with autism, learning disability, mild mentally and physically challenged are enrolled and getting rehabilitation, education and playing with normal children, he informed.
It is a success story and I hope the government will replicate this model for the interest of the community and our countrymen at large, Dr. Mahboob ur Rahman concluded.
