Rs15.30-lakh Australian fellowship for University of Pune

The Australian government has awarded Australian leadership award fellowship worth $35,000 (Rs15.30 lakh) to the department of education and extension of the University of Pune (UoP) for the development of inclusive education system, under which differently abled students can attend regular classroom sessions.

The fellowship award has been initiated by Monash University, Melbourne. Along with UoP, the fellowship has been granted to University of Dhaka, East China Normal University and Beijing Union University, China.

Two UoP teachers, Sanjeev Sonawane and Megha Uplani, of the department of education and extension will participate in the programme, scheduled between February 8 and 23, 2011. They have prepared a presentation on the current status of inclusive education in India and areas and problems faced by disabled in developing countries.

The theme prepared by Monash University for the year is ‘World leadership in any area of education’.

Sonawane told DNA there can be slow learners, visually impaired, physically challenged, fast learners and students with different skills in a classroom.