AJK SSC exam: Special children beat the odds, hold distinctions

All physically challenged children who sat the exam passed.

MIRPUR:


All special children who appeared in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) this year have passed the exam with flying colours.


“The overall success rate remained 100 per cent; the special children have set a new record for all students,” said Tassawer Hussain, a research officer of the AJK Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (AJK BISE) Mirpur told The Express Tribune on Monday.

The eight hearing-impaired students who took the exam belong to Kashmir Institute of Special Education (KISE) Mirpur, which is run by Insari Welfare Trust, a non-governmental organisation. The students comprise seven boys and one girl, who bagged distinctions, setting a new precedent for the students of all other private and public schools in AJK, said Hussain.

He informed that only four of them belong to Mirpur city, whereas the rest belong to remote areas of Kotli, Bhimbher and Mirpur districts. “The students had joined the institute in kindergarten 13 years back,” said KISE Director Dr Amjad Insari.


“This is proof that with enough determination, nothing can stop a physically challenged person from reaching their goals,” Shehzad Ayub, a qualifying student, said in sign language.

“Our success is a milestone for the educational system of AJK. We made it happen with our dedication to studies, hard work and assistance of our teachers,” gestured Sana Shabir.

“I want to become a doctor and serve the nation and I will continue studying till I achieve my goals,” said Muhammad Haleem, also communicating through sign language.

“We have established a sense of competition among the special students by helping them get rid of inferiority complexes through grooming by qualified academicians and specialists,” said Dr Insari said. “We aim to help them become useful citizens so that they could also serve the nation,” he stated.

There is not a single public-sector educational institution for special children in AJK, which signifies the lack of interest and poor policies of the education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2012.
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