Experiences and Perceptions of Special School Personnel Regarding Inclusive Education: A Qualitative Study

The present study explored the experiences and perceptions of psychologists with regards to the benefits of inclusive education for special needs children. The phenomenological approach was used, and data was collected from four psychologists in the form of semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The following themes emerged in favor of inclusive education: (i) Providing Support to Special Need Students; (ii) Requiring Qualifications and Experienced Teachers; (iii) Offering Training to School Staff; (iv) Identifying Barriers that Interfere with Inclusion: Stigma and Integration; and (v) The Positive Effects of Inclusive Education: Empathy, Social Skills, and Academic Achievement. The importance of training teachers and staff in inclusive education was also highlighted. The present study indicates that awareness programs are required to remove the social stigma against children with special needs in advancing inclusive education in Pakistan.

Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment Eia in Punjab Pakistan

Pakistan is a country where the requirement of Environmental Impact Assessment was presented in 1983 by Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance (PEPO, 1983), but it was not efficiently implemented by the ordinance, and formally came to an effect when Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) was passed in 1997 as a major environmental legislation. For the purpose of this study 150 environmental reports were reviewed and over 100 practitioners (consultants, NGOs, academics, lawyers, EPA personnel, environment specialists from donor agencies) were interviewed, besides closely monitoring the EIA process in the province of the Punjab. The present study includes the review of section 12 of PEPA vs actual practice in the province of Punjab Pakistan with reference to international Standards/guidelines and requirements, review of EIA Reports quality and consultants practice in Punjab, along with the Development of an outline/framework for Model EIA. The present study is based on multi-method approach involving survey, assessment checklist, and questionnaire. Despite the recent improvement in EIA implementation in Pakistan over the last few years, still there is a dire need to revise the current legislation on EIA due to difficulties and deficiencies identified in practice. The current study not only identifies and highlights the weaknesses and deficiencies that result in violation of section 12 of PEPA, but also suggest measures to revise section 12 of PEPA 1997 and its pertaining rules and regulations regarding screening, scoping public consultation, alternatives, mitigation measures and management plan to make EIA an effective decision making tool. Moreover assessment of EIA reports and consultant practice of carrying out EIA identified the wrong categorization of project, lack in identifying the scope of the project, weak consultation among stakeholders, poor quality of baseline data, missing component of project alternatives, insufficient mitigation measures, inadequate EMP and totally ignoring component of GRM, indigenous people and climate change. This pioneer study advocates the need to include, follow and implement Model EIA in execution phase of every developmental project. Referred format would result in introducing a better quality in assessment report and practice thus making EIA a powerful tool to mitigate the consequences of any proposed development projects through evaluation of the environmental and social determinants.