Inclusive Education- What is it and Why does/should it matter?

Perspective, Challenges, and practices of Inclusive Education?

Children are a natural source of joy and happiness when allowed to express their true selves in their homes and of course their schools! A solid school environment plays an influential role in helping children develop into mature adults. Schools are a second ‘home’ for students, and if taken care of by their mentors and teachers, they will develop into stronger and better Individuals.

Let’s begin with a definition of inclusive education. Inclusive education is essential and crucial for the well-being of one and all! Inclusive Education can be defined as an essential teaching model where all kinds of students, irrespective of their ability, talent, and or/ learning ability are able to come together and learn and grow without discrimination.

Students, irrespective of their differences, are welcomed by their neighborhood schools and slowly accepted into mainstream schools. Fair treatment of students with differences is a huge part of true Inclusive Education!

In recent years, India overall has witnessed significant improvements in education levels along with enrollment of children overall! GER ( Gross Enrollment Ratio) for the girl child has increased to 90.5 percent.(2019-2020) while pupil to teacher ratio(PTR) has gone up to 98.67 Lakhs (2019-2020)

Despite significant improvements in the enrollment of children in schools, the system still grapples with inequity and exclusion. According to India Book 2020- A Reference Annual:?The literacy rate in India overall is 74.04 percent. The gender literacy percentage is Males at 82 percent and Females at 65 percent. Kerala takes the cherry in terms of the state with the highest literacy rate.?A little less than 30 percent of Schools across the country had Children with Disabilities enrolled in schools (Year 2018-2019), As per - Unified District Information on School Education(UDISE)

The statistics for school dropout are scarier. All over India, 29% of children drop out before completion of 5 years of Primary School. 43% drop before finishing upper primary school. The Drop Out Rate for Persons with Disabilities is :

These statistics reflect that much still needs to be taken care of when it comes to students enrolling and then completing their schooling till the end!

Vulnerable and marginalized groups suffer greatly from inequity and exclusion.

NEP Mandate

NEP Mandate (2020) is a replacement of an earlier Mandate NEP 1986. NEP(2020) came into action with the approval of the Union Cabinet of India (29th July,2020). NEP(National Educational Policy) mandate 2020 was designed keeping these challenges in mind. NEP’s vision is inclusive and equitable education for one and for all! Special focus on the Girl Child + students from Economically disadvantaged groups. Skill enhancement is a very important part of NEP for the girl child. Educating the girl Child on their Legal Rights is also a crucial part of NEP Mandate which falls under Legal Legacy.

Female health is also an important aspect of NEP.

Special Features of NEP (2020) (Ministry of Education) :

?-???????Ensuring Universal Access @ All Levels of Schools

-???????Ensuring quality early childhood care and education.

-???????Equitable and Inclusive education - Special emphasis on SDEGs

To understand the current status of Inclusive Education in India, we need to take a close look at the statistics available to us :

1) Only 61.2 percent of the disabled population between 5-19 years are receiving education.

2)?Out of a total enrolment of students: From 1st to 5th grade aggregated - 1.18% and 6-8th grade - 1.13 percent students in school?in the Year 2011

3) 80% of Persons with Disabilities live in Rural areas where accessing inclusive education is very very difficult.

Model for Inclusive education :

A model for inclusive education is simple and complex at the same time. To develop this, we first need to develop a Solid and highly Reliable & Realistic Framework for an Inclusive Education Program. How to go about this?:

?1)???Educating teachers - Serious and Dedicated teachers who - Strongly Committed to Inclusive education ideals should be hired for teaching these students.

2)???Searching out Students with Disabilities and assessing their disability levels

3)???Use of Standardized Functional Assessment Tools : (WHO-DAS, Activities of Daily Living?to name a few) to determine disabilities. If yes- the severity of the disability is measured.

4)???Development of Individualized Support Systems for specific disabilities.

5)???Right and appropriate resource allocation for sustainable development of these children

6)???Appropriate support provision for these children.

7)???Before and after analysis for children in terms of quality of life and economic growth, other relevant parameters!

Necessary Approach by education institutes:

In order to be able to implement these policies and frameworks, schools with visionary heads and followers of Inclusive Education ideals should be inculcated into the program. Educating the educators is very very important. Once solid educators are on board, inclusive education program steps should be implemented slowly until it is an ingrained part of the education system. Once enough students are uplifted, a massive shift can be made in terms of how we as a whole think!

Conclusion: ?

The state of Inclusive education in India so far has been a story of progress. Progress at a very slow pace. But there is a possibility for great progress in the future of Inclusive Education as the horizons broaden and the mentality of educators as well as the families of students with disabilities changes and improves for the better. We will be able to see a change in the future prospects of students with disabilities as they make their efforts to join real educators looking to make a difference and a positive impact in the lives of these children!

To attend our International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 please register with us at?https://giftabled.org/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2022/

?Sources

1.https://wecapable.com/disabled-population-india-data/

2.https://www.brookings.edu/research/primary-education-in-india-progress-and-challenges/

3.https://www.pacer.org/parent/dropout-prevention/

4.https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1731860/