Central scheme to benefit 37,000 specially abled children

Rifat Mohidin

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Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 27

More than 37,000 specially abled students will benefit under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme which will provide them free education and health benefits.

Director School Education, Kashmir, Muhammad Younis Malik, said the students were being provided everything free in their schools besides health facilities.

The Centrally-sponsored Samagra Shiksha Scheme has subsumed the three schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education.

Implemented last year by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), the scheme envisages “the school as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels with the vision to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

The official said there were 37,419 specially abled students studying in schools in the Valley. “Some students are already being provided with all facilities but under the scheme, all students are to be covered,” the official said.

Most of the schools in the state lack facilities for the specially abled children which has been discouraging them from pursuing education. However, the scheme has been introduced by the MHRD to encourage education of such children.

In the schools, the official said ramps were being built for the convenience of the students. He said the students were also being provided assistance by helpers and transport facilities which were usually not available to normal students.

“The health needs of the students are also being taken care of,” the official said, adding that the chidlren were also being provided latest facilities like smart classes.

Under the guidelines of the scheme, the schools are to identify the children with disabilities at the school level and assess their educational needs.

The schools are to supply appropriate teaching-learning material, medical facilities, vocational training support, guidance and counselling services and therapeutic services to children with special needs as per their requirement.

The teachers are also being sensitised and trained to teach and involve children with special needs in the general classrooms. For existing special educators, the capacity-building programmes will be organised.

Implemented by HRD ministry

• The Samagra Shiksha Scheme has subsumed the three schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education.

• Implemented by the HRD Ministry in 2018, it envisages the school as a continuum from pre-school, primary, upper primary, secondary to senior secondary levels with the vision to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.