NCERT to revise curriculum to improve access for children with disabilities
In a move to promote inclusive education for children with disabilities, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has signed a tripartite agreement with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).The agreement, signed on Wednesday in the presence of Union Ministers Virendra Kumar and Dharmendra Pradhan, aims to create a more accessible and inclusive education system in line with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.advertisementAs part of the collaboration, NIOS will begin recognising special schools run by NGOs under the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS) as Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Disabled (SAIEDs).
These schools will offer a range of academic and vocational courses, including open basic education and senior secondary programmes. NIOS will manage all aspects related to admissions, exams, study materials, and exam accommodations for these institutions.To support this initiative, NCERT will work on reviewing and adapting textbooks and curriculum content to make them more inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities. The changes will ensure that the learning materials align with NEP 2020 principles.Union Minister Virendra Kumar said that every child, regardless of ability, deserves a chance at education. "This agreement reflects the government's vision that inclusive education is a right for all children," he said.advertisementEducation Minister Dharmendra Pradhan echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of education in building a fair and aware society. He added that improving school infrastructure, including accessible toilets, will be a key focus area to reduce dropout rates amongst children with disabilities.DEPwD Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal underlined the government's efforts to widen access to quality education for students with disabilities, even in top institutions like IITs and IIMs.He also appreciated NIOS's recent move to introduce Indian Sign Language as a subject at the secondary level.Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, stressed the need to ensure that every child with a disability completes their schooling.To ensure smooth implementation of this initiative, a Joint Coordination Committee comprising members from DEPwD, NIOS, and NCERT will be formed.(With PTI inputs)Must Watch
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