Punjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi has said that research in special education and paying special attention to the people with unique characteristics were the need of the hour to improve their abilities so that better facilities could be provided to them for living a better life.
He expressed these views while addressing the first international conference on ‘Research in Special Education’ organized by Institute of Special Education (ISE) at Al Raazi Hall. In the conference, researchers including USA, Karachi, Bahawalpur also addressed online.
Vice-Chancellor Lahore Leads University (LLU) Dr Nadeem Ahmed Bhatti, Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Prof Dr Javed Iqbal Qazi, MD of the Punjab Welfare Trust for the Disabled (PWTD) Dr Izhar Hashmi, Chief Medical Officer Dr Muhammad Akram, Director ISE Prof Dr Humera Bano, Director Career Counseling and Placement Center Prof Dr Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
Dr Asghar Zaidi said that every year, 200 special children were admitted in Punjab University and the best skills were being imparted to them. He lauded the efforts of the organizers for organizing the conference and said that such events provided an opportunity to learn about the experiences of internationally renowned researchers and new trends of the field.
Dr Nadeem Bhatti said that efforts must be made to enable persons with special abilities to be useful part of our society. He said that the army and the air force had developed several tools through modern research that should be utilized by educational institutions to benefit unique individuals.
Dr Qazi said that we should use words like persons having unique abilities instead of the word disability so that their self-esteem was not hurt. Dr Izhar Hashmi said that special children need more emotional attachment which is becoming extinct in the age of modern technology. He said that development is impossible without strengthening the links of educational institutions with industries and practitioners. He said that new trends were being introduced in the world on which students studying in special education should work.
Director ISE Dr Humera Bano said that holding the first webinar conference is a source of happiness for her and her team. She said that the purpose of organizing the conference was to make students aware of the thoughts and experiences of experts. Later, souvenirs were presented to the distinguished guests. Prof Dr Aftab Khan, Prof Dr Nasir Suleman, Prof Dr Nasreen Akhtar and others also spoke online.
