The decision by the government to make special education available in regular schools is a groundbreaking step toward creating a truly inclusive society.
The separation from the barriers provides all children with disabilities, as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, access to quality education in regular classrooms, and encourages social inclusion.
This historic decision changes education from being a privilege to being a universal right.
The introduction of inclusive education through this policy is not just an administrative change but is a moral obligation to recognize the untapped potential of the millions of children that have yet to be included in the mainstream schools. Children with special needs have been isolated or have not been provided with adequate resources.
The government is creating an environment of compassion and belonging for children with special needs by integrating them into regular school classrooms, which will ensure future generations are raised in a diverse, accepting manner.
There are many benefits to this policy, for one, children with special needs will have the opportunity to develop socially and thrive in an environment where high expectations exist.
For the neurotypical children, this policy demonstrates to them the concepts of empathy, patience, and the reality of human diversity that cannot be taught through textbooks.
This initiative will help to ensure all children have access to quality education and meets the goals of the earlier education reform initiatives of ensuring that physically accessible infrastructure is built by ensuring all buildings and classrooms are accessible to everyone.
The recent deployment of specially-trained educators and the provision of further resources necessary for regular classroom teachers to cater for the various learning needs of students.
The provision of specialised educational resources, particularly braille books and resources to assist the student with their Braille reading development.
Through the use of School Readiness Centres and supporting teachers through continuing professional development, this enables the successful integration of the children with additional learning support needs into traditional education settings.
Through this initiative it is evident that the country is committed to ensuring that no child is left behind, and provides an internationally recognised framework for the inclusion of children in need of additional support into the classrooms.
The successful implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy demonstrates the commitment of the Government of India to ensure that children in need of additional support can access education in the general education system and sets a global standard of equitable and inclusive education.
