Lahore (Web Desk): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has initiated a free educational program for the transgender community of Pakistan.
The university is starting the program with the aim to improve the living conditions and standards of one of the most ignored segments of the society, transgenders.
Vice Chancellor of AIOU, Professor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui said that “we have multiple successful programs running for marginalized and stigmatized segments of the society. Now we have decided to launch a program for the amelioration of transgender people of Pakistan. Through this program, we hope to return their long-lost self-respect and dignity to them and make them responsible citizens of the society.”
The university is also running other programs as well to improve the life of various minority segments of society.
According to a AIOU policy it’s their aim to provide free education to handicapped and visually impaired individuals. These facilities include computerized accessibility center in the library. This enables special students to access library independently.
Following a test project on the main campus, the centers are developed in 44 regional offices of the country. Moreover, the university has also introduced a program in Chakwal, Nankana Sahib, Thatta, and Kharian, to provide free education to those girls who dropped out of school for some reason.
VC said, “I recently visited the Thatta center where the spirit of the girls was worth watching. 400 girls have cleared the examination for class 8 out of which 377 have now taken admission in Matric.”
He further said, “We have received a positive response from the community and have already started receiving applications for the program.”
Now applicants need to apply for autumn 2017 semester.
The university has revealed the dead line October 10 to submit admission form.
