Govt to establish schools for specially-abled children: Zulfkar

SRINAGAR, MAY 24: Minister for School Education, Haj and Auqaf and Tribal Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali today announced that Government would soon start separate schools for specially-abled children across the State.

The Minister made the announcement during a departmental review meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said although Government is making sure that concept of inclusive education is followed in letter and spirit, and a child irrespective of his health condition receives the same education as a child with normal health condition. However, he said there are some, who due to their medical condition of having 100 percent or near 100 percent disability, could not be taught in regular schools and require special care and special attention.

It is for these specially-abled children, the Minister said that Government intends to start special schools, where they could receive their education, without any hindrance.

The Minister directed both the directors from Kashmir and Jammu division to identify places across the State to establish these schools within a fortnight.

Zulfkar Ali said the department has sufficient infrastructure and some buildings can be easily converted as special schools for specially-abled children.

He directed the directors to complete all the required formalities, which include deputing well trained resource persons and putting in together the requisite infra-structure in these schools so that they would be made operational this year only.

Directing the concerned to ensure that all high schools and higher secondary schools should have ramps constructed at an earliest, the Minister said in a developed society, the needs and interests of every individual that includes people with special needs, are taken care of.

He said that lack of ramps in an educational institute defeats the concept of inclusive education.

The Minister informed that under the central scheme of ‘Shala Darpan’ the Government would provide 1800 computer tablets to 2458 high schools and higher secondary schools. 

During the meeting, the Minister was informed that during financial years of 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18 the department has provided vocational training courses to 132, 220, and 200 students respectively studying in 9th to higher secondary schools. The courses included were health, retail, information technology, travel and tourism, security, telecom, agriculture, media and entertainment.

Secretary School Education, Director School Education Kashmir, Director School Education Jammu, Director RMSA, Director SSA, Chief Engineers R&B, and other concerned were present in the meeting.