EENET asia Newsletters : inaugural issue JUNE 2005 Contents

Inclusive Education is the Only Means to Combat Inequalities and Injustice

Abdul Hameed

For the first time in the history of education in Pakistan the Department of Special Education, University of the Punjab in collaboration with UNESCO Pakistan, ISS Karachi and IDP/Braillo Norway organized a two day (May 16-17, 2005) Regional Seminar on Inclusive Education. More than 400 participants attended this landmark event in Lahore. The theme of the seminar was “Improving schools for social inclusion”. Experts from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka presented their papers on different sub-themes of the seminar. The discussions focused on recent policy initiatives, schools in the changing scenario, challenges and opportunities for inclusive education. The presenters stressed the need for inclusive education, which they reiterated will not only improve the quality of education, but also eliminates inequalities and injustices. They also mentioned that the idea of inclusive education is in complete harmony with the teaching of Islam and other religions and it is a cost effective way to reduce the dropout rate.
On the basis of papers presented the Chairman, Seminar Committee, Dr. Abdul Hameed presented the following recommendations of the Seminar.

• The Education Policy and Education Sector Reforms should be reformulated to implement inclusive education in the country. Legislative cover both at federal and provincial levels should also protect this policy shift.
• A road map for Inter-ministerial collaboration should be prepared so that all partners of inclusive education may take up their task.
• The team of experts already engaged in curriculum revision should be asked to provide enough flexibility to implement inclusive education at elementary and secondary levels.
• The teacher education curriculum should also be revised in line with the requirements of inclusive education and other global challenges.
• To begin with the rural primary schools particularly in remote areas should be made open and welcoming for children with disability and otherwise disadvantaged, excluded children with immediate effect by improving the schools for inclusive settings.
• Teachers as well as head teachers working in these inclusive schools should be given specialized training and financial incentives along with technical and professional support such as assistive devices, instructional material and separate budget for meeting the immediate needs of inclusive classes.
• Efforts should be made on different forums such as SAARC, ASEAN, OIC, etc. to initiate regional collaboration so that the country experiences can be shared at regional level. UNESCO and UNICEF should provide technical assistance for the development of resource centers in each country of the region.
• The Department of Special Education at University of the Punjab should be declared as national resource center on inclusive education. Each district government should establish an in-service teacher-training center for the preparation of teachers for inclusive education.

A better school-community relationship is imperative to usher maximum benefits of inclusive education. The private sector should be given due role as equal partner in initiating inclusive education right from the policy formulation to the allocation of funds from public exchequer.

Prof. Dr. Abdul Hameed,
Chairman Organizing Committee
University of the Punjab

EENET asia Newsletters : inaugural issue JUNE 2005 Contents