Schools should discard reservation for disabled children: PM

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged schools to discard a general reservation against retarded children saying one's disability must not be a reason to keep him or her from education.

"General educational institutions don't want to enroll the children with disabilities. This mentality will have to be removed," she said while inaugurating the 10th World Autism Awareness Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the morning.

She added, "We always give highest priority to education. But that must be uniformed."

The Ministry of Social Welfare arranged the programme. The day is being observed in the country as elsewhere of the globe with the theme -- "Toward Autonomy and Self-Determination".

The premier said the talent of the disabled children is endless. "I am wondered as so attractive picture they paint, beautiful song they sing and unique cultural programme they perform," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said whatever greeting cards she sends to the people on the occasion of different festivals like Eid and Nabobarsha are prepared by the children with disabilities.

The prime minister urged the people of all classes and professions to extend their helping hand to flourish the talents of the disabled children. "They must be given scope for flourishing their latent talents ... let's make beautiful their life," she said.

Assuring that her government will do everything for the welfare of the children with disabilities, Sheikh Hasina urged the disabled children and their guardians to keep mental strength.

The guardians of such children feel helpless many times. "But I would like to tell them to have mental strength ... we have constituted trust for them. We would try our best and such a thing we would do in future so that nobody suffer," she said.

Source: BSS


risingbd/Dhaka/April 02, 2017/A K Azad