Mann Cabinet approves 3,600 posts of special educator

CM Bhagwant Mann-led cabinet today gave its nod to recruit 3,600 special educators for 47,979 Children with Special Needs (CWSN) enrolled in government schools.

These include 1,650 posts in senior secondary schools and 1,950 posts in primary schools. The recruitment will be done by converting equivalent vacant posts of vocational, ETT and art & craft teachers.

At present, the state has only 386 special educators, who were hired on contractual basis in 2005.

In Ludhiana district, there are just 30 special educators for 7,330 special students.

Officials of the Education Department said under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), there should be at least one special educator for every 10 students from Class 1 to V and from Classes VI to VIII, there should be at least one teacher for 15 special students.

In February, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had intervened after receiving a complaint from Berozgaar Vishesh Sikhya Adhyaapak Union head Harish Dutt.

The NCPCR had asked Punjab’s Director General of School Education to conduct an inquiry. Later, the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights also stepped in, directing the Education Department to probe the matter.

In the first phase, 1,100 teachers would be recruited, followed by 1,200 teachers in the second phase and 1,300 teachers in the last batch. The 386 special educators working on contractual basis would also be regularised.

Congress MLA and former Education Minister Pargat Singh said the Mann cabinet took decision after he raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha.

2 pvt varsities also approved

The Mann Cabinet also approved two private universities — CGC University, Janjheri, and Rayat Bahra University, Hoshiarpur.

Now, Punjab has 19 private universities, in addition to four state, a central and two law universities. Three more private universities are in the pipeline