Question : Education to Differently Abled Children

(a) whether the Government has implemented dedicated schemes to cater to the diverse needs of the differently abled children at elementary and secondary level education;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the number of Government schools including Government-aided schools for such children and the number of students enrolled therein, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether the Government has issued guidelines/directives regarding barrier-free design and access in school buildings for the benefit of such students and if so, the details thereof along with the funds allocated/released/utilised for the purpose during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(d) the action taken against the schools which have not complied with these directives; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for the benefit of differently abled school students?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)


(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 26 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2015 ASKED BY SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR AND SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA REGARDING ‘EDUCATION TO DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN’.

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry has been implementing the component of inclusive education under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) with an objective to enable all differently abled children to complete eight years of elementary education in an inclusive and enabling environment. Similarly, the Ministry is also implementing the component of Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) under the integrated Rashtriya Madhyamik Shikha Abhiyan (RMSA) with an objective to enable all students with disabilities completing eight years elementary education, an opportunity to complete four years of secondary schooling (Class IX to XII).

The States/UTs are being assisted by the Government to implement the SSA as a programme for universalising elementary education for all children in the 6-14 years age group. Its overall goals include, inter-alia, universal access and retention, bridging of gender and social category gaps in education and enhancement of learning levels of children. SSA provides Rs. 3000/- per child per annum for the interventions related to education of Children With special Needs (CWSNs). The major interventions under SSA for the education of CWSNs are identification, functional and formal assessment, appropriate educational placement, preparation of Individualized Educational Plan, provision of free aids and appliances, transport and/or escort support, teacher training, appointment of resource teachers, therapeutical support and barrier free access.SSA provides free access to the differently abled children in an inclusive environment in neighbourhood schools. Under the SSA 25.03 lakh differently abled children have been enrolled in 10.93 lakh schools including government aided schools. State/UT wise details are given at Annexure-I

Under IEDSS scheme 100% central assistance is provided through State government /UT for student oriented assistance @ Rs. 3000/- per child per annum, engagement of special teacher, equipping research room, preparation of teaching learning material, making school barrier free, orientation of parents, administrators, educationists etc. There are 55893 Secondary Government schools including Government aided schools where 222016 CWSN are enrolled. The State/UT wise details are given at Annexure-II.

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched a National e-Scholarship Portal (NeSP) on 1st July 2015 for Pre-Matric Scholarship and Post-Matric Scholarship and Top Class Education for Students with Disabilities, whose objective is to provide financial assistance to the parents of students with disabilities for studying in the pre-matric level and post-matric level.

(c): Under the SSA guidelines/directives have been issued regarding barrier-free design and access in school buildings for the benefit of such students. Guidelines are given at Annexure-III. The funds allocated and spent on the activities related to the education of children with special needs under SSA in the past three years and the current year is given at Annexure-IV. The IEDSS scheme also has the provision of removal of architectural barriers for CWSNs for ensuring access to each classroom, laboratory, library and toilet in the school. The State/UT wise releases and utilization, including funds for removal of architectural barriers intervention for the last three years are attached at Annexure-V.
(d): National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has been designated with the task to look at issues related to the violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, including barrier free access. Further States have set up State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) / Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) for any issue related to the violation of the RTE Act. Moreover the RTE Act has made Local Authorities the grievance redressal agencies and SCPCRs as the appellate bodies at the State level.

(e): The other steps being taken under SSA by the Government for the benefit of differently abled students include surgery, therapy support, free aids and appliances, transport support and escort support. SSA also provides free textbooks and free uniforms to all children, including the differently abled.

To facilitate inclusive education of CWSNs under SSA, 1.26 lakh teachers have been trained on curricular adaptations. After the RTE amendment Act in 2012, 1.16 lakh severe CWSNs are covered through home based education and CWSNs have also been included in the 25% admission quota given to disadvantaged children in private schools as per Section 12(1)(c). Convergence has been established with Assistance to Disabled Persons (ADIP-SSA) Scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide assistive devices to CWSN under SSA.


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