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Indian Government Introduces Home-Based Education for Children with Disabilities
In a significant step towards inclusive education, the Indian government is set to introduce a groundbreaking initiative to provide home-based education for children with disabilities. This initiative, outlined under the National Guidelines and Implementation Framework on Equal and Inclusive Education (NGIFEIE), mandates that schools implement specific inclusivity measures for Children with Special Needs (CwSN), physically challenged students, and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Under the latest norms released by the National Council for the Education of Exceptional Children (NCERT) and the Department of School Education and Literacy (DSEL), students with severe disabilities in the early years of education will receive home-based schooling to ensure they attain the necessary levels of learning. This initiative is aimed at fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational system for all.
As part of this innovative homeschooling program, dedicated itinerant resource teachers will visit the homes of students with severe disabilities. These resource teachers will not only teach but also provide guidance and support to help these students with their studies. Importantly, the frequency of visits will be determined by the parents’ discretion, ensuring flexibility and personalized care. It’s important to note that homeschooling is fully within the legal framework of education, and the Right to Education Act of 2009 does not prohibit homeschooling.
In addition to the itinerant resource teachers, the DSEL is planning to appoint special educators to further facilitate home-based schooling. School teachers will also receive cross-disability training to enhance their ability to support CwSN and physically challenged students effectively.
The scope of this initiative is all-encompassing, recognizing 21 disabilities, including conditions such as blindness, low vision, leprosy-cured individuals, hearing impairments (deaf and hard of hearing), locomotor disabilities, dwarfism, intellectual disabilities, mental illnesses, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, specific learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, speech and language disabilities, thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, multiple disabilities (including deaf-blindness), acid attack victims, and Parkinson’s disease patients as severe disabilities among students.
These guidelines have been meticulously crafted in alignment with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and they are poised to contribute significantly to the establishment of a robust early childhood educational ecosystem in the country. This initiative represents a major stride towards a more inclusive and equitable education system in India, ensuring that no child is left behind on the path to knowledge and empowerment.