The Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh has announced plans to set up a separate section for children with special needs at community schools.

A delegation of parents led by Asma Tariq met with Deputy Chief of Mission Khayyam Akbar to stress the growing need for a separate section for special-needs children in their schools.

According to Tariq, there are around 80 special-needs children of various ages and categories who are not being able to get basic schooling.

“Parents of these special-needs children have done everything in their capacity to get their children admitted to schools, but now they are frustrated, depressed and hopeless,” she said.

“It is very frustrating for parents to see their children growing older without any form of education; we have resorted to the embassy as our last hope,” Tariq said.

Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan has specifically assigned Khayyam Akbar to look into the issue and listen to the parents’ viewpoint on the issue.

“We will study this matter, and if possible we will begin a special session at Pakistani schools dedicated exclusively to these children,” said Khayyam Akbar.

He indicated that due to space constraints, the mission was finding it difficult to house a special section in the Pakistani International School.

“However, efforts are under way to arrange for special sessions in other private schools in the Saudi capital,” he said.

“We need to open a special section in our schools for children with special needs; I appeal to all community members to extend their cooperation to make it a reality,” Khayyam Akbar said.

Responding to the appeal, Mohammad Qasim Al-Qurashi, chairman of Bright Future School, pledged to seriously consider opening a dedicated section for such children.

Al-Qurashi convened a press conference at his school recently and laid out his proposal to help solve the problem.

Al-Qurashi assured parents of full help to these children.

The dire need for dedicated schools for children with special needs was first discussed during a Pakistan Writers Club meeting to mark the UN International Day for Disabled Persons in Riyadh.