Parents demand special needs school in Jawzjan

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): A number of families of blind and deaf kids in northern Jawzjan province complain about lack of special needs schools in the province and demand attention of the concerned authorities in this regard.

Currently, there is no special school for the blind and deaf in Jawzjan province; but Swedish Committee in its three years special needs training program in Shiberghan city has trained and taught 267 blind and deaf kids in the past ten years and referred them to normal schools.

Wali Mohammad, father of a 13 years old deaf child, told Pajhwok Afghan News that lack of Special Needs Schools was a major problem in Jawzjan province and that their parents hoped for the disabled children to be literate.

He added that his son had graduated from the training program of the Swedish committee in the province and he was then referred to a normal school in Shiberghan city.

Wali Mohammad urged the authorities to establish Special Needs Schools for such children so that all children with special needs could get education.

Shamayul, mother of a blind girl who has graduated from the three years education and training program at the Swedish Committee’s Special Needs center, said “My daughter was a wild-like child and would break everything she found in the house but after training and education by the Swedish Committee; she has turned into a noble child”.

She added that her daughter would profoundly study at the Special Needs center and deliver the teachings to her family members.

She said her daughter has graduated from the three years program of the Swedish Committee’s Special Needs center and she is now referred to a normal school but she urged the authorities to take steps for establishing such schools for the special needs children in the country.

Director of Jawzjan department of Education, AbdulRahim Salari confirmed to Pajhwok Afghan News that there were no Special Needs Schools in Jawzjan province,. He, however, said the Swedish Committee has been active in training and educating special needs children and their efforts were limited but effective.

“We intend and have also planned an outline to establish a Special Needs School in Jawzjan province very soon,” the director said.

The Swedish Committee’s in-charge for Special Needs education, Nooruddin Kamal said that the committee would refer 23 children during this year to normal schools after they complete their training program in Special Needs training program.

Kamal added they had special programs for the kids who were blind and deaf and deprived of going to school.

Kamal said the deaf children would be taught sign language and the blind children would be taught braille script, adding the mobile teams of the Swedish Committee would enroll these children and teach them for three years and then these children would be referred to normal schools.

He said the Swedish Committee and the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA) have planned to establish a special school for such children in order to develop the educational and training program.

Currently 30 children are studying through Swedish Committee’s education center and with establishment of the special school, more blind and deaf students would be enrolled.

Hr/ma

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