KARACHI: President Dr. Arif Alvi has urged the promotion of inclusive education in Pakistan, advocating for equal educational opportunities for all children, irrespective of physical ability or socio-economic background.
Encouraging private schools and welfare organizations to collaborate with the government in facilitating accessible education for all, especially Children with Disabilities (CWDs), the President shared these sentiments during a meeting with representatives from private schools and NGOs at the Governor House in Karachi today.
The meeting, attended by Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi, Sindh’s Minister for Education and Literacy Mrs. Rana Hussain, Secretary Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPD), Secretary School Education & Literacy Department (SELD), and representatives of schools in Karachi, aimed to discuss the importance of inclusive education.
President Alvi stressed the necessity of developing and implementing an inclusive curriculum that caters to diverse learning styles and addresses the needs of students with different abilities (SWDs). He underscored the importance of making educational institutions physically accessible for SWDs through facilities like ramps and elevators.
The President also called for a collaborative effort in drafting a comprehensive chart on Inclusive Education by all stakeholders, covering essential aspects such as easy access for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in schools and training private school teachers in special education tools.
Moreover, President Alvi urged consensus-building on facilitating PWDs through inclusive education, involving the government, private sector, and NGOs.
He encouraged constant engagement between Sindh’s School Education Department, the Department of Empowerment of PWDs, private schools, and NGOs to advance Inclusive Education. Private schools were encouraged to share their vision and best practices on Inclusive Education with the Sindh government while considering the existing legal framework on PWDs.
Commending the National Book Foundation’s (NBF) efforts, President Alvi recommended that private schools review NBF’s syllabus on Inclusive Education from class one to eight.
Minister Madad Ali Sindhi expressed the need to enhance the condition of schools nationwide and appreciated President Alvi and the First Lady for championing the cause of inclusive education in Pakistan.
Earlier, President Dr. Arif Alvi received a briefing on Inclusive Education from the Secretary of Sindh’s Department of Empowerment of PWDs.
