Ansari Welfare Trust

In 2001, the Ansari Welfare Trust undertook a survey of children who were deaf or hard of hearing. The result of this survey showed that a large number of children with hearing difficulties were living in Mirpur and the surrounding area. The government-funded schools were not in a position to cater for the needs of these children.

The Ansari Welfare Trust undertook to establish the Kashmir Institute of Special Education (KISE) in October 2001, with Dr Amjad Ensari as the Project Director. The Institute had to gain confidence from parents of children who are hard of hearing that their children, given the appropriate help, would be able to read and write. Parents had for long believed it to be impossible for their children. It is hoped that pupils from this Institute will be able to receive education of a high standard so that they can be at the same level as their peers from mainstream schools and make a positive contribution to life.

The Institute is currently housed above the Srinagar Hospital, which is situated on Allama Iqbal Road, Mirpur. Rented accommodation consists of 6 classrooms and offices. A number of children are already on the waiting list, which makes expansion of the Institute very probable. The current location is unsuitable for future expansion. Research is currently being carried out to find an appropriate location on which a multi-purpose building can be built to cater for deaf children. At the moment, the Institute is unable to offer boarding for children wishing to attend from other parts of Azad Kashmir. It is hoped that this will be addressed when the new building will be developed.

The Institute is twinned with Thorn Park School, Bradford. The hope is that this twinning will enable the development of a stronger bonding between the pupils and the staff of the two schools so that both institutes can learn and exchange teaching methods and experience.