KVS ACROSS INDIA TO APPOINT EDUCATORS FOR KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

PRAYAGRAJ:ň: Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) has taken an important decision aimed at helping students with special needs to join the main stream.

In a recent order issued by joint commissioner (academics) of KVS, NR Murali, all the Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) across the country have been asked to recruit special educators in their respective schools if they have not already done so. The letter to this effect has been sent to deputy commissioners (DCs) of all the 25 regional offices of KVS, informed KVS officials.

KVS runs 1,255 Kendriya Vidyalayas across the country which include three schools in foreign soil which are located in Kathmandu, Tehran and Moscow and having over 13 lakh students and 48,314 employees.

As per the letter of the joint commissioner (academic) dated November 21, the DCs have been asked to ensure that the KVs under their jurisdiction mandatorily engage special educators on contractual basis till regular posts are sanctioned by the Sangathan. The official in the letter mentions that it has been observed that some Kendriya Vidyalayas have already engaged special educators on contractual basis but many others are yet to engage them. The letter has come at a time when a case in this regard is sub judice and KVS is required to submit its response on November 30.

During the hearing of a petition, the Delhi High Court had on November 17 ordered the hiring of 987 special teachers. Presently, around 5,600 special children are studying in different classes in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

The letter mentions that the qualification for educators to be engaged would be as laid down by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). In case small KVs face shortage of fund for engaging special educators, they can approach the regional office with justification for funds, the missive says. The HC has asked for action taken report in this matter on or before November 30. Earlier in 2016 and again in 2018, orders were issued to appoint special educators, but currently many of the 1,255 KVs do not have special educators.