The Consortium for Development Policy Research (CDPR) held a session of its Lahore Policy Exchange on “Leaving No One Behind: The Role of Special Education in Pakistan” on Wednesday, 12th February from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at 19-A FCC Scheme Maratab Ali Road, Gulberg IV, Lahore.

Many children around the world are excluded from school, and daily life, because of disability. Inclusive systems provide better quality education for all children and are instrumental in changing discriminatory attitudes. Schools provide the context for a child’s first relationship with the world outside their families, enabling the development of social relationships and interactions. Education that excludes and segregates perpetuates discrimination against traditionally marginalized groups. When education is more inclusive, so are concepts of civic participation, employment, and community life.

To discuss the state of Special Education in Pakistan, as well as the initiatives that the government has been taking to improve the accessibility of education for people with disabilities (PWDs), the following panelists were been invited:

Mr. Syed Javed Iqbal Bukhari – Secretary Special Education, Government of the Punjab;
Mr. Muhammad Afzan Munir – Senior Research Analyst, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi;
Dr. Faisal Bari – Associate Professor, Lahore University of Management Sciences; Director, Institute for Development and Economic Alternatives;
Madiha Ajaz – Psychologist, Consultant & Therapist.