To provide education to all children in the state, irrespective of their physical and mental health, the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan has implemented a new programme for differently-able children.
From this academic year, resource teachers have been appointed to provide home-based education for children with multiple and severe disabilities under the age of 18. The programme is being implemented as part of the Right to Education Act.
“Through the programme implemented in April last, children who need special care will be given home-based education. Specially trained resource teachers will take classes to the students.
The programme has been conceived in a way which will equip the child to pass the eighth standard by the age of 18,” said K.M Aliyar, Ernakulam district project officer of SSA.
According to SSA authorities, there are 6,000 children with disabilities in the state. In Ernakulam district alone, there are 481 disabled students.
Apart from syllabus based classes, the children will be given speech therapy and physiotherapy. The resource teachers, with B.Ed in special education, are experienced in attending to children who need special care.
The children will be enrolled in classes one to eight as per their proficiency in language and science, at the nearest school.
They will be provided with vehicle facilities to come to school twice a week, and given `3,000 annually for various expenses.
Meanwhile, some NGOs oppose the project saying that it is a violation of the fundamental right of the child to be included in the education system.
According to them, giving an option of home-based education will serve to push out the child from the system.
Children with disabilities are the largest group of out-of-school children even in comparison to other groups such as SCs and STs.