Islamabad (IN)The third batch of the COMSTECH–Ida Rieu Special Teachers Training Programme began on Monday at the Ida Rieu Welfare Association in Karachi under a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening capacity in inclusive and special education across OIC member states.The programme is jointly organized by the OIC Ministerial Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) and Ida Rieu Welfare Association for the training of teachers and professionals working in the field of special education and support services for persons with disabilities.
A total of 12 trainees from Nigeria, The Gambia, and Uganda are participating in the current batch, while 15 participants from different countries were trained during the previous two batches of the programme.Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Coordinator General COMSTECH Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said inclusive education and professional training are essential for improving opportunities and social participation for persons with disabilities across OIC member states.He said capacity-building initiatives focusing on teacher training, skills development, and inclusive education were vital for empowering communities and improving educational access for children with disabilities.Prof Choudhary said COMSTECH remained committed to promoting educational cooperation, human resource development, and social inclusion across OIC member states through targeted training programmes and institutional partnerships.He also praised the humanitarian and philanthropic contributions of President Ida Rieu Welfare Association Dr. Nadira Panjwani and acknowledged her longstanding services in the fields of special education, healthcare, and community welfare.
Speaking on the occasion, President Ida Rieu Welfare Association Dr. Nadira Panjwani appreciated the efforts of OIC-COMSTECH in promoting inclusive education and capacity-building initiatives for special education professionals in OIC member states. She said Ida Rieu Welfare Association would continue its cooperation with COMSTECH for the promotion of special education, professional training, and welfare services for persons with disabilities.She welcomed the international participants and reaffirmed Ida Rieu’s commitment to accessibility, empowerment, and inclusive education through professional training and welfare initiatives.The training programme includes practical teaching methodologies, assistive learning approaches, and specialized capacity-building sessions for teachers working with children with disabilities.
