Few teachers for disabled kids

Lack of special educators has led to reduction of enrolment of children in government schools by 33%

Enrolment of children with special needs in government schools has come down by 33 per cent this year due to lack of special educators.

Parents enrol children with special needs in regular schools as part of the inclusive education so as to brighten their academic future and for a better social assimilation. However, lack of special educators is playing the spoilsport.

Though the Centre provides financial assistance under Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamic Siksha Abhiyan to encourage education children with special needs, they are often left at the mercy of regular teachers, who are already burdened with the academic tasks of other students.

Besides, there is hardly anyone to look after the administration-related needs of these children.

The Special Educators’ Forum noted that regular teachers are not fully equipped to handle the intricacies of teaching a child with special needs. Their knowledge is restricted to a few workshops which they have attended. Most of the time, children with special needs are promoted to higher classes to show the number.

A special educator is needed to look after children with special needs to complete their academic courses successfully. Special educators work closely with students who have sensory impairments, hearing and visual problems, autism, mental retardation, cerebral palsy as and specific