Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) made it mandatory back in 2015 to have special educators in all affiliated schools. Much to despair, many schools did not adhere to this notice and continue without any special educator.
The order came as an enforcement of Right to Education (RTE) and was supposed to cover all affiliated schools nationwide. The move was to promote inclusive education by assimilating children with learning disabilities with other students.
“It has been observed that many CBSE-affiliated schools are not adhering to the provision concerning the appointment of special educators as mandated by the board. The management and the head of the board have been directed to strictly follow the provisions and make arrangement immediately to appoint special educators,” read the circular issued on June 17.
As per Unified-District Information System for Education (U-DISE), 2015-16, the statistics of the HRD ministry, the state continues to have worst enrollment of children with special needs (CWSN), both at primary and upper primary levels.
Madhya Pradesh deals with the lowest enrollment of onlt 0.5% CWSN kids at primary and upper primary levels. The nationwide enrollments facts are not very gay either. The national average is 1.13% in primary and 1.18% in upper primary levels.
Children with visual impairment, hearing impairment, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities are covered in this category.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the national educational initiative to help realize universal elementary education policy, said: “Every CWSN should be placed in regular schools with the needed support services.”