Ansari Welfare Trust

Staff

The Ansari Welfare Trust is responsible for running the Kashmir Institute of Special Education (KISE). Dr Amjad Ensari is the Project Director of the Institute. The current staff consists of a head teacher, 5 class teachers, speech therapists and a caretaker.

Students

Currently there are 74 pupils enrolled, with a many on the waiting list due to the physical size of the school. The pupils are 4 to 16 years old.

Curriculum

Pupils receive education in English, Urdu, British Sign Language, speech therapy, indoor sports activities, drama clubs and general awareness to cope with their hearing impairment. Pupils have access to modern audio-visual aids and computers.

Facilities

The Kashmir Institute of Special Education (KISE) is equipped with advanced and demanding facilities. As Information Technology has become an essential skill, pupils are also trained in computer education. Because of the pupils' hearing difficulties, they are unable to learn a wide range of vocabulary in a conventional way. Therefore, speech therapy is organised to help pupils with speech. To exploit pupils' hidden abilities and qualities they are encouraged to play indoor games. The Institute wishes to bring out the best of its pupils, and to make them learn at the same level and next to their peers. Multipurpose extra-curricular activities are organised for entertainment, to learn new skills, for recreation, for social behaviour and for assessing obedience of rules.

No admission fees are charged (completely free education is offered). Pupils receive a free school uniform, free books, a free hearing aid, free refreshments, free educational trips and a free pick-up and drop off service from their homes to the school is offered.

Applications

Initial awareness promotion of the free Institute for deaf children was undertaken in Mirpur. This resulted in many parents enrolling their children at the Institute. Further awareness and word-of-mouth ensured wider publicity of the Institute, increasing numbers of parents enrolling their children and more awareness in the community.

The application process is quite simple. Pupils are enrolled and their needs are then assessed. An appropriate education plan is then compiled for each pupil.