UMT’s International Conference on Inclusive Education is a 2nd international conference of its kind in Pakistan.  “Accommodating Diversity: Creating Educational Environment” was the theme of conference this year. Conference presented an opportunity to explore inclusive in education and to improve the quality of education. Number of themes like children’s rights in education, access and equity, diversity and inclusion, challenges in equal participation in education, pedagogy for inclusive classrooms, and reforming teacher education for inclusive education were presented in the conference.

Pakistan has an alarming situation regarding a number of out-of-school that makes 22.6 million students that have no access to schooling and governmental policies are not addressing the issue. Pakistan is in dire need for education emergency said the speakers in a two-day international conference on inclusive education held by the Department of Special Needs Education at University of Management and Technology (UMT), Lahore.

Speakers emphasized on implementation of effective policies with the concept of inclusive education, a popular theme for the improvement of schools across the globe. Education departments are scheduling to introduce inclusive education at primary and secondary levels. HEC is also enthusiastically employed on inclusive education policy, but then again official sponsorship at all levels is needed on the occasion.

UMT Chairman Dr. Hasan Sohaib Murad said that inclusive education means more inclusiveness in the process of schooling, mentoring and followers grooming logically. He further said that attributable to several social factors like stereotypes, poor law and order situation and awful economic crisis people are not sending their children to schools, resulting in no-inclusiveness in education, and social development.

School of Social Sciences Dean and Humanities and ambassador of Inclusive Education in Pakistan Dr. Abdul Hameed said that the conference on inclusive education is the need of the time. He said that to achieve the best results regarding inclusive education, the participation of local communities and their willingness.

Dr. Rebecca Kanak Fox, a professor George Mason University, USA, presented a comprehensive presentation on the importance of inclusive education. She sketched a complete agenda of appealing government, community and universities to work together on inclusive education.

Punjab Minister for Special Education Muhammad Shafiq and Akhwat Foundation Chairman Dr. Amjad Saqib also shared their views on the occasion. The minister cherished UMT management for holding the conference on inclusive education. He further added that the government was trying to provide basic education to all children. The minister said that without public-private partnership inclusive education dream could not come true.

Around 400 eminent scholars from all over Pakistan and abroad attended the conference and shared their knowledge and experiences on various aspects of inclusive education.