- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering with Afghanistan badly effected by so-called war against terror in Afghanistan

By The South Asia Times

PESHAWAR, Pakistan - Pakistan has established modern education facilities for abled children in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)province, bordering with Afghanistan to support children facing disabilities.

The schools named "Umeed" (Hope) have established by Pakistan army for the special children in the province which had badly effected by the so-called war against terror in Afghanistan during last two decade.

"We have established this schools in Peshawar in 2008 and probably the modern facility for abeled chidren in the provincial capital city of Peshawar," said Robina Sarwar Khan Principal Umeed Special Education School. 

Around 170 abled students are currently studying in this facility including children suffered in intellectually challenged, physically challenged, slow learners, visually impaired and hearing impaired, she added.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Stitistics there are 371,833 disabled people including 41,759 children across the country till 2021. Among them 116,491are in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while 147,539 in Punjab, 69,387 in Sindh, 13,329 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 10,495 in Balochistan, 7,886 in Giligit Baltistan and 6,706 in capital Islamabad.

"Currently, 4 special education schools are runing by the Pakistan Army in KP only with special emphasis on the well-being and growth of special children enabling them to work independently being a handful part of society," said Robina.

Some 335 students are currently enrolled in all four schools located in Peshawar, Kohat, Swat and Thal areas of the province. 

" Pakistan Army’s focused supervision, management and continuous support for Umeed Special Education School Peshawar has been instrumental in its success and remains a prominent landmark among other social welfare initiatives of the Pakistan Army," said the Principle.

According to the management, some of their students even participated in international games and two student recently played the US Junior Squash Championship. While two students of the school are part of Army junior Squash Team.

"We engage these students in different activities to learn and become useful member of the society and even stand on their foot for a bright future," Robina said.

"The school is equipped with modern facilities to ensure optimum education as well as vocational training of children to make them useful members of the society,"

Many students in the Peshawar Umeed School belongs to low income families and parents praised the Pakistan army move to have estbalished these modern facilities for their children in province where already people effected during last two decade from the Afghan war.

"My daughter lost her eye sight when she was in 5th class and there was no modern facility where she could continue her education but now we have Umeed school where she will complete her education," Sufi Adil Naeem, an employe of Pakistan Post said.