Funds for special education raised to Rs 400m: minister

LAHORE: The Punjab government increased funds for special education department from Rs 21 million last year to Rs 400 million this year, according to the Punjab special education minister, Qudsia Lodhi.

Briefing reporters on the department’s one-year performance here Thursday, Ms Lodhi said special students were getting a monthly stipend of Rs 200 and teacher’s salaries had been doubled, while non-teaching staff were getting a special allowance. She said sports facilities would be available soon at special education schools, as Rs 3.1 million had been allocated for extracurricular activities and the provision of sports equipment.

Ms Lodhi said the department had also started the first special education degree college and a vocational training institute in Lahore. She said the government was providing free education, uniform, textbooks and hostels to special children.

The minister said the department would give Braille books to children with impaired sight and hearing devices to children with impaired hearing free of cost. She said 59 new buses would be bought to pick and drop them from house to school. “The government will also provide free wheel chairs to physically impaired children,” she said.

Ms Lodhi said the department planned to set up special education centres in 90 Punjab teshils with a cost of Rs 171 million. She said 270 teachers had been hired in the last 10 months, which included 64 teachers through the Punjab Public Service Commission.

Ms Lodhi said Rs 670,000 were given to non-government organisations working in the special education sector. She said special education centres would be set up in Chakwal and Kamalia. staff report

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