Ministry Holds Nationwide Screenings for Special Needs Education Module

More than 60000 schools across India recently took part in a nationwide screening of a 30-minute training module focused on inclusive education for children with special needs. The Department of School Education and Literacy led the initiative through the PRASHAST portal.

Module Details

The training uses practical examples and interactive activities to help school staff learn respectful ways to support students with special needs. The module is available in 12 Indian languages and targets head teachers, classroom teachers, special educators, and non-teaching workers like drivers, aayahs, clerical staff, receptionists, deans, and wardens. The Ministry noted that inclusion is a shared responsibility across every part of the school day, from classrooms to transport and offices.

Background

More than 72 lakh teachers have already received sensitisation through this dedicated module over the past three months. The effort aligns with the National Education Policy of 2020 and the RPwD Act of 2016. PRASHAST itself functions as a screening tool to help identify children with 21 different disability conditions.

Context

Inclusive education policies aim to make regular schools welcoming and accessible for every child regardless of physical or learning challenges. Training non-teaching staff alongside teachers helps create a secure and supportive campus environment from top to bottom.