Suggestions sought to make education more friendly for kids with special needs

The Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) has sought suggestion from several organisations and experts in the education field to improve the quality of education, and make it more friendly for children with special needs (CWSN).

RMSA is Union HRD ministry's scheme for secondary education. It has put in place a couple of provisions for children with special needs and has now sought suggestions from Sol's ARC, SNDT University, Aliyavar Jung Institute of Hearing Impaired, Observer Research Foundation, Adapt, Hashu Advani Institute and Muktangan.

The first draft of proposals that was sent to RMSA are on teacher training, pedagogy and curriculum adaptation, resource rooms-BRCs as hubs, integration of out-of-school CWSN.

Sonali Saini, founder chairperson, Sol's ARC, said: "One of the organisations is working on how teachers can identify as well as handle in class children with learning disabilities. Another organisation is working on curriculum and teaching methods for CWSN. As not all special children can cope up with the tough curriculum of the state board, we are developing a special curriculum for them. After it receives proposals from different organisations, we have requested RMSA to hold a meeting to discuss them to have a clear idea of the project. They will later present it to the central government."

Srinivas Shashtri, under secretary, education department, said: "These organisations are working on different projects and will submit their suggestions."