Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(SSA)

Committed to the Welfare of a Special Child

The centre has announced inclusive education programme under SSA to ensure 3 lakh disabled children make it to regular mainstream schools. Under this scheme, schools should not refuse admission to students on grounds of disability.

Conference on Disability Rights & Development by NMYA

On Sunday, 2nd July a conference on Disability Rights & Development was hosted by Nav Maharashtra Yuva Abhiyan (NMYA) at Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai. People from Education dept as well as special education field shared their views and opinions in the conference. All the representatives from various disability institutions were also in attendance. From education to issues like reservation in municipal corporation, parliament for people with disability were discussed. All the representatives were of opinion that disability welfare should be transferred to HRD dept & should not be with Social Justice dept. NMYA is going to come up with a charter of demands.

Inclusion of Children with Disability in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
The education Dept is training regular school teachers to teach children with disabilities. They are trained for 10 days and are expected to teach and integrate these children into mainstream. This is a very tall order and next to impossible. By doing this the education dept is overburdening the regular teachers and undermining the role of special teachers.

Is there a solution?
The issue was discussed in the conference on Disability Rights & Development held in Yashwantrao Chavan Centre hosted by Nav Maharashtra Yuva Abhiyan .Why this happens, what could be the solution was very effectively explained by Ms. Kalyani Mandke –a professional from hearing Impaired field. She stressed on integration saying by creating special schools, we are wasting our resources, infrastructure etc. The regular and special teacher’s skills can be used well if planned well. 

Another very valid point was raised by Mr. Suhas Karnik from Blind Men’s Association. The present B. Ed course for regular school teaching has hardly any input in disability. If orientation in disability is given to them during B. Ed period, they can be effective teachers who can implement SSA. 

Though there are many gaps in the planning, execution and implementation, the idea, principle behind the SSA is noteworthy. 

Govt. has introduced a scheme ‘Education at your Doorstep’ under SSA. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has appealed to parents of children with physical Disability who can not attend the school due to disability to enroll. 

Contact: Education Officer- Shri. P.R. Pawar 
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Education Dept. office, 
Sector -1, Mini Market, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai 
Call: 2756-0173. 98600-29569, 98925-90884. 

Times of India Report dt. 26.8.05

The SSA is the most ambitious project ever in the field of elementary education. Though it is under separate head, the HRD ministry has failed to provide concrete information. In the past 2 months, the scheme's performance in the north was reviewed. Haryana was asked to concentrate on Mewat region for enrolment of girls in schools while Punjab was told to strengthen mid-day meal schemes. Bihar, West Bengal and Arunachal being the worst SSA performers were told to wake up.

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