Two programmes that enable young children with Down syndrome to attend mainstream schools

Solution
Education for Individuals with Down syndrome
Country of Implementation
Pakistan
Start Year
2017
First published
03.12.2023

KDSP, Pakistan: Created Early Preschool Experience and Inclusive Education Programs in 2017 for children with Down syndrome. By 2022, the number of children supported in mainstream school had risen to 69.

This image features a group of young children sitting in wooden chairs, most likely in a classroom or daycare setting. They are wearing matching white t-shirts with a colorful design, and their expressions range from curious to joyful. Some children are looking towards the camera, while others are engaged with their surroundings. In the background stands a man, arms crossed, observing the children—possibly a teacher or caretaker. The room has a cheerful ambiance with decorations on the walls, and there's a table with various items, suggesting an environment for play and learning. The scene embodies themes of community, nurturing, and the innocence of childhood.
EPEP prepares children with Down syndrome to attend a mainstream school in Pakistan.

Solution details

People

Kanooz Siddiqui Website
“The peace of mind I experience knowing that my child is in a nurturing environment where she thrives is beyond words.” Um e Rubab, parent of am EPEP student

KDSP, a mid-sized NGO based in Karachi, created the Early Preschool Experience Programme (EPEP) and the Programme for Inclusive Education in 2017. It prepares young children with Down syndrome and assists them in the transition to a mainstream preschool or nursery,. It uses Individualized Education Plans designed to improve communication, motor, socio-emotional, and play skills, among others. EPEP supported seven children in 2017, growing to 25 in 2022; and the number of children in mainstream schools grew from seven in 2017 to 69 in 2022.

Problems Targeted

To enable children with Down syndrome to attend a mainstream school they need preparation and support.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

KDSP has launched two programmes to prepare children with Down syndrome for life in a mainstream school and to support them and their families in entering one. KDSP is the only organization in Pakistan catering to the early educational journey of these children. The Early Preschool Experience Programme (EPEP) is a school-readiness programme that enrols children aged one and half to three years to develop their social, cognitive, and physical skills. Children receive age-appropriate Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) that focus on learning objectives in areas such as communication/language, fine and gross motor skills, socio-emotional skills, perception/play, and self-help skills. They are then implemented in a school-specific routine to prepare children for the classroom. Parents are also empowered through training and engagement sessions. After a child has been enrolled for one year in EPEP, parents are informed and guided about schooling options and become part of the Programme for Inclusive Education (PIE). Schools are supported through PIE with awareness sessions, and training for teachers and facilitators and is provided as well. After an initial reluctance to enrol children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools, there has been significant growth between 2017 and 2022. In 2022 there were 69 children in mainstream schools supported by PIE, and over 80 in 2023.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

KDSP’s services for individuals with Down syndrome are sustained through donors, grants, and partnerships. Additionally, some limited financial support comes from the services fees that families pay. These services are tailored to each child’s age and needs, with costs either highly subsidized or entirely free, based on the family’s financial situation. In all, 95 per cent of individuals with Down syndrome are receiving some form of financial support when availing services at KDSP. (Awardee 2024)

Media

Pictures

This image features a group of young children sitting in wooden chairs, most likely in a classroom or daycare setting. They are wearing matching white t-shirts with a colorful design, and their expressions range from curious to joyful. Some children are looking towards the camera, while others are engaged with their surroundings. In the background stands a man, arms crossed, observing the children—possibly a teacher or caretaker. The room has a cheerful ambiance with decorations on the walls, and there's a table with various items, suggesting an environment for play and learning. The scene embodies themes of community, nurturing, and the innocence of childhood. EPEP prepares children with Down syndrome to attend a mainstream school in Pakistan.
This image features a group of young children sitting in wooden chairs, most likely in a classroom or daycare setting. They are wearing matching white t-shirts with a colorful design, and their expressions range from curious to joyful. Some children are looking towards the camera, while others are engaged with their surroundings. In the background stands a man, arms crossed, observing the children—possibly a teacher or caretaker. The room has a cheerful ambiance with decorations on the walls, and there's a table with various items, suggesting an environment for play and learning. The scene embodies themes of community, nurturing, and the innocence of childhood. EPEP prepares children with Down syndrome to attend a mainstream school in Pakistan.

Related information

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    Kanooz Siddiqui

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

Pakistan