39 vacancies for special educators in north Chennai alone: Survey

Inclusive education for kids with any degree of disability in a government and/or aided school takes a hit

CHENNAI: To identify and enrol children with special needs, the School Education Department has appointed special educators in TN government and aided schools.

However, through a recent survey by the government, it was found that there are 39 vacancies for special educators in north Chennai alone.

As per the survey, there are 74 vacancies for teachers in north Chennai. Out of which, 39 are for special educators, seven for Secondary-Grade Teachers (SGTs), 12 for Bachelors in Training (BT) and 16 for Post-Graduate Teachers (PGTs).

The vacancy numbers are particularly high for special educators in north Chennai. It has raised concerns of inclusive education and identifying children with disability in the region.

The special educators are appointed in government and aided by the education department alongside the Directorate for Welfare of the Differently Abled. They educators are responsible for identifying children with disabilities who can pursue education, despite their condition.

These educators also guide and provide assistance for children with disability and their parents. They ensure that the government-sponsored incentives reach the children along with assistive devices and books.

While children with disability are mostly categorised as mild, moderate and severe, those with mild to moderate conditions are encouraged to attend school. But, in the case of severe disability, educators visit the residence of those children to teach them, and ensure assistive devices and stipends reach them on time.

Similarly, with the same motive, the education department in November 2022 also started a campaign to ensure that no child was deprived of quality education regardless of their physical and mental challenges. But, unfortunately in north Chennai, the chances of bringing the children with any degree of disabilities are thin, considering the high number of vacancies of special educators.

“Due to high vacancies for special educators, there is no doubt that the goal of inclusive education is not achieved in north Chennai. It’s high time these vacancies are filled in the new academic year,” said a special educator working in Tiruvallur.

Also, the educator rued that special educators in TN have not been regularised, and added: “We’ve been overloaded with work for a monthly salary is just Rs 25,000. How’s that fair?”

The School Education Department, in November 2022, had started a campaign to ensure that no child was deprived of quality education regardless of their physical and mental challenges