Year: 2016 | Month: April | Volume 7 | Issue 1

Baseline assessment of special education schools in public sector, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan


DOI:Coming soon...

Abstract:

Education is a basic human right. Children with disabilities (CWDs) need the most and get the least of Education.Quality data about the special education facilities in developing countries like Pakistan can guide reforms.This study undertook the task to evaluate the situation of special needs education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This study will serve as a bench mark for future actions.A Questionnaire based survey was conducted across the public sector special education schools in KP between August and October 2013. Data was analyzed with SPSS V.16.0. The questionnaire includedsections about infrastructure, number of students,

co-curricular activities and provision of personal assistive devices.Out of 28 responding schools, 2 (7%) are metric, 5 (18 %) are middle and 21 (75%) are primary level. Out of 27, Schools for hearing impaired were 10 (37%), MR & PH are 6 (22%), for visually impaired are 7 (26%) and special education complexes for cross disabilities are 4 (15%). Parent teachers association (PTA) is part of 80% schools.19(70%) schools are in rented buildings. 9 (36 %) have hostels while average distance of schools (all situated in Urban areas) from main bus stand is 4.16 Kilometers. 12 (46%) schools (n=26) participate in sports with 12 schools (57%: n=21) have a play ground.3 (27 %, n=11) institutions have audiologist, 4 (40%) schools having physiotherapist(s) and only 3 (11%) schools are having psychologist(s) at service where needed.No eye care exists at Blind schools (n=7) or complexes (n=4). Majority of Hearing aidsare self-purchased and most of tricycles are provided by government.Situation of special education in KP is worrisome. Deficient and inaccessible infrastructure is catering negligible number of potential beneficiaries/ children with disabilities. Previous polices and National Action Plans special education isshelved awaiting implementation.





© This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Print This Article Email This Article to Your Friend

Economic Affairs, Quarterly Journal of Economics| In Association with AESSRA

27244419 - Visitors since February 20, 2019