SEN-i – Special Education Needs Initiative
Who We Are
The Special Education Needs Initiative in Pakistan (SEN-i Pakistan) is the outcome of decades of experience with special needs in the UK. The Initiative is funded by the corporate foundation, CareTech Foundation, and supported by the Children of Sheikh Abdul Rashid and Fahmida (COSARAF) Foundation, in Karachi.
Through its extensive work with mental health in Pakistan alongside the British Asian Trust, the Foundation observed critical gaps. A lack of public funding, infrastructure, and expertise has left Pakistan’s education system in urgent need of intervention to support 2-17 year-olds with SEND requirements. Children with SEND require resources that will enable them to develop similar to their non-SEND peers. Parents and caregivers of SEND children also require support and education.
Our Impact So Far
During the past year, PSEI has worked tirelessly with some of the best schools in Pakistan, including Crescent Model School in Lahore and Dawood Public School in Karachi, amongst others. With the pilot programme beginning in January 2024, and with the continuous support of all our partner schools, we have accomplished major milestones on the delivery side of the programme. These include:
• A locally adapted Initial Assessment Tool, ready for schools to screen students for additional needs. This tool is approved and tested by the CareTech Ltd’s Cambian Schools in the UK seed-funding.
• A mutually developed curriculum framework compliant with Key Stages 1-4 to assist students with additional needs.
• A dedicated online Learning Management System is in place with a suite of 100+ courses, approved by the National Association for Special Educational Needs (Nasen) which can be accessed asynchronously by teachers from across Pakistan.
Updates
As SEN-i enters the second year of its three-year commitment, the initiative continues to evolve with deep learning and growing momentum. We are witnessing a steady increase in the number of mainstream schools expressing interest in adopting the SEN-i model. At the same time, larger organisations are beginning to demonstrate a strong commitment to scaling the programme. Recently, SEN-i has:
- made links with specialist service providers such as Boltay Huroof ( Speaking Alphabets in Urdu) in Karachi, who support learners with visual impairment.
- engaged with new entrants in the SEND landscape, including early childhood-focused centers like First Hope Centerin Lahore, as well as several independent professionals working across the special education domain.
- Began developing a tailored digital solution to support online training delivery, streamline lesson planning and to create individualised education plans for students with SEND requirements.
- Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Network of Organisations Working for People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP). This partnership will enrol its teachers in a blended learning model- combining online and in-person training on inclusive education.
SEN-i continues to make significant impact within schools across Pakistan. These videos tell the real-life stories of the difference SEN-i has made.
SEN-i’s Senior Programme Manager, Mariam Durrani, talks more about SEN-i, their achievements and hopes for the future:
