KARACHI:
In Pakistan the provision of inclusive education for students with physical and intellectual disabilities is limited. One reason for this is the crude negligence during the data collection process of the census. The percentage of disabled people in Pakistan is not unanimously quoted. The fifth Population and Housing Census, conducted in 1998 cites that 2.38% of the population is disabled, whereas according to the data collected in the 2017 census, the percentage has reduced to 0.48%.
A 2016 study revealed that there are approximately 158,378 schools with 17,043,460 students and 447,890 teachers for students without special needs. Unfortunately, there is no data regarding students with disabilities and their enrollment. The discrepancy in the statistics and non-availability of data related to disabled citizens directs to the lack of representation and inclusion of differently-abled people in our society. The sense of isolation in the social, educational and professional spheres can potentially cause resentment in them aiding in the disruption of social cohesion.
One grave consequence of this negligence is the low literacy rate among the disabled population when compared to the general population. The lack of attention directed towards inclusive education is one of the many reasons why the Pakistan Education Task Force says the country “is in the midst of an educational emergency with disastrous human and economic consequences.” Access to education is a priority on the international agenda, aligning with the objective of Education for All (EFA). A comprehensive understanding of the issue is imperative for policymakers to develop the mechanism to transform our education system. It is crucial for creating a society where quality education is accessible to every child.
Talha Hyder
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, October 29th, 2023.
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