IQRA Literacy Program launched

The launch of the IQRA Literacy Program was announced at a ceremony held at a local hotel on November 30, 2016, by Deaf Reach Schools, a project of Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF).

Designed exclusively for Pakistan by WISE award-winning Dr Ricardo Rosas and a team from Santiago, Chile, in collaboration with Deaf Reach, the IQRA program is innovative software that teaches reading and writing skills to deaf children, according to a press release issued by the FESF on Wednesday.

The event opened with a moving version of the national anthem in sign language by the students of Deaf Reach School, followed by an informative presentation by Dr Ricardo Rosas. Live classrooms were on site, and visitors were able to observe the deaf students working on the interactive software. 

FESF Executive Director Richard Geary said, “This is a great initiative, and a first in Pakistan. There are over one million deaf children in Pakistan, yet only a small percentage have access to formal schools. We will now provide IQRA free of cost to any family, school, or organisation working with deaf children, making it possible for any deaf child in Pakistan to gain literacy