Children with disabilities demand friendly schools

Children with disabilities yesterday called for creating friendly atmosphere for them in mainstream schools, saying education was their constitutional right.

At a roundtable, speakers urged the government to ensure training for all the teachers to give extra care to such children at school.

They said at the special schools such children are provided with only primary education.

Non-government organisations Society for Education and Inclusion of the Disabled (SEID), Steps Towards Development and Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF) jointly organised the programme titled “Education, Equal Justice and Protection against Gender Based Violence of Persons with Autism, Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities” at the capital's The Daily Star Centre.

“I am not allowed in a good school. I, too, want to get education like other normal children,” said Shila Moni, an autistic child.

Another physically challenged child Sanjid Hossain said, “When I go outside, I am often mistreated. I went to a school; three days later, they asked me not to come again.”

“Aren't we humans?” he asked.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki said, “If people understood their [children with disabilities] problem, the issue would be solved to a great extent.”

She also underscored the need for an early screening system for the prevention of birth of child with disabilities.

Social Welfare Secretary Tariq-ul-Islam said his ministry had conducted a survey and listed a total of 18 lakh persons with disabilities though many might have been dropped.

“We are working on it [the list]. Once it is prepared, it will be helpful for them,” he said.

BPF Executive Director Dr Shamim Ferdous demanded special invigilators at the exam centre as student with disabilities often do not feel good during tests.

Jatiyo Protibondhi Unnayan Foundation Director Dr Anwar Ullah, Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed Executive Director Shafiqul Islam, among others, spoke at the programme. 

Steps Towards Development Executive Director Ranjan Karmakar presided over the roundtable which was moderated by SEID Executive Director Dilara Satter Mitu.