INTRODUCTION
Every child must get a quality education irrespective of his/her background and financial status. It is not just the responsibility of parents, but it is also the responsibility of society and government to provide free, fair, and quality education to all and at all levels, as in the modern era no one can get success in life without education. So, there shouldn’t be hurdles or obstacles for the students in acquiring the knowledge. Education departments should make sure that the door of education is open for all. When we talk about all the students, it includes special children too.
SPECIAL CHILDREN
Are the ones who either face physical or mental abnormality, gifted by God, due to which they face problems in doing basic tasks of their life. Therefore, such children need an intellectual person every time with them, who can help them perform the basic tasks. In such circumstances, only a few out of many special children acquire education for a positive change.
WHY THE RATIO OF ACQUIRING EDUCATION IS SO LOW?
The way of perceiving knowledge is changing every moment due to the advancement of technology in the modern era. Therefore, normal children (the ones who are not mentally or physically retarded) are also facing some issues i.e. change of syllabus, the old method of teaching, less interactive sessions, fewer physical school activities, etc., as a result, fewer children get the required education from High Schools. Moreover, the use of electronic devices like mobile devicesces, tablets and TV has also disrupted the level of education, as a result, children face issues like lack of interest in education. Ultimately, children do not acquire education the way they should by using modern technology.
WHAT IS THE RATIO OF EDUCATION OF SPECIAL CHILDREN?
As we already know that the education system for the normal children is facing many management, administration and planning issues, so, we cannot expect that the education system for the special children is flourishing. It is suffice to say that the ratio is the worst.
REASONS
Firstly, there is no one to talk about and to raise the issues of special children in our society. As a society, we give less importance to such persons, As a result, nobody likes to talk about them. If we see any special child, we curse/her parents and use bad language with them. Secondly, there is no proper education and health system for their betterment. Thirdly, there is no welfare department for the help of such special children. Fourthly, governments usually do not take an interest in improving the lives of such persons. Fifthly, people are not aware of the real problems of such persons. Lastly, we do not take any steps to provide them with the best future.
SPECIAL CHILDREN IN PAIN FACT
Here, we don’t accept the special children with open arms. We sideline them, either parents kill such special children or they admit them to a shelter home. In some cases, the parents even sell them or give the custody of special to their maids. The parents do not take the responsibility to help them grow and to provide them necessities of life.
It is suffice to say that the parents in Pakistan usually disown the special children. As here parents believe that there is no point in investing in the future of such special children. So, they usually avoid providing them care and love. As a result, the special children live very shortly.
LEGAL ASPECT
The constitution of Pakistan protects the basic rights of every citizen of Pakistan, including minorities and special children. The laws for the special children are made, but not implemented! The departments are made to provide better life to such persons, but they have budget issues. The government does not take timely steps to overcome the problems, as a result, the laws which are in the field become ineffective. There is no check and balance on the work of the authorities, as a result, the laws made are short-lived, and people hardly implement the rulings after the passing of six months. There is so much confusion in the rulings of the Federal & Provincial law implementation system, as a result, people don’t like the new system and they work as per their old rituals. The laws should not just be made keeping in view a few elite groups of special children the data must be collected from the urban and rural areas, and then the laws be made accordingly.
In Pakistan, only NGOs raise the issues of special children, their education, and health, keeping in view their legal rights, but the thing many special children need support, and fewer NGOs are in operation.
SUGGESTION
The Government should take responsibility to provide a better future for special
children by taking the following steps:
● Spread awareness
● Provide free education
● Provide free healthcare
● Appoint medical experts
● Open shelter home
● Protect the legal rights
● Provide them security
● Implementation of new technologies
● Special budget for special children
● Suggestion systems
CONCLUSION
We cannot leave the special children alone, in fact, we should help them overcome their pain by love, care and support. Parents need to be more supportive and helpful in providing them quality education in this competitive world. We should accept the special children with open arms for their betterment. We are already far behind in providing quality life to special children, as compared to other developing countries. The number of suicide of special children has drastically increased, and if we do not take appropriate steps, the numbers would certainly increase. Lastly, we can say, modern problems require modern solution.
