News

Volume 2 Issue 7 - April 01, 2004

Stress on special education

Arguing that the field of special education and rehabilitation sciences could become a lucrative career option for many, the Rehabilitation Council of India, a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, has strongly asserted that the range of professional courses it runs can help meet the demand for special educators in upper primary and primary schools across the country, reports The Hindu.

In the 10th Plan, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has emphasised the need for at least one special educator for persons with disability in an upper primary school in every block in the country to meet the goals envisaged in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan of the government. The Persons with Disability (PWD) Act, 1995, also makes free education to a disabled child, up to the age of 18 years by a trained teacher, a statutory obligation on the state as well as central governments. Considering the huge number of upper primary schools in the country, the demand for special educators is anywhere in the vicinity of 2 lakh trained teachers. "This demand can be met by both training the existing teachers and other aspirants through the distance education programme and by fresh appointment," said Major H.P.S. Ahluwalia, Chairman, Rehabilitation Council of India.