Department of Education of Groups with Special Needs
The Department of Education of Groups with Special Needs was established on 1st September 1995. Since then the department had been working in the area of education of children with disabilities and children belonging to other socio-economically disadvantaged groups, such as SCs, STs, OBCs, and minorities. Implementation of an equitable and inclusive system of education for all assumes greater significance of systemic reforms especially in the context of the socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs) and the children with disability. The department focuses on the diverse learning needs of children belonging to these groups and takes up projects for developing relevant resource materials for teachers, teacher educators and other stakeholders. The department also organizes capacity building and sensitization programmes for teachers, teacher educators, policy makers and other stakeholders to sensitize and train them in appropriate strategies for providing quality education and equal education opportunities for these children in schools and other learning centers.
Inclusion in education is a dynamic phenomenon and it postulates for education to create a demand on education system to modify itself as per the needs of the learners, irrespective of his/her abilities/disabilities and backgrounds. Successful and effective implementation of inclusive education requires thoughtful planning and time bound action based on research findings. Keeping this in mind, the department has been involved in various academic programmes for the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities, children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and those belonging to minorities, in education. The department has undertaken a number of research, development, training programmes and extension activities for making education accessible to the disadvantaged groups including the learners with disabilities.
The Key Functions of the Department are:
- Carry out researches to review the existing activities and suggesting new initiatives in the filed of education of persons with disabilities and those belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the minorities.
- Organize capacity building and sensitization programmes, for teachers, teacher educators policy makers and other stakeholders. To sensitize and train them in strategies for providing quality education and equal educational opportunities to children belonging to the vulnerable groups.
- Support the development of curriculum and learning materials which are accessible and inclusive in nature, at the national and state levels and suggesting reforms in the examination procedures from the perspective of groups with special needs.
- Develop learning materials and curricular resources like teachers' guides, manuals, index for inclusive schools, training guidelines and Braille literacy curriculum etc.
- Advice and support the Centre, states, NGOs and international and national level agencies for effective implementation of equitable & inclusive education.
- Network and draw linkages between various departments, organizations and people involved in education of special focus groups.
- Conduct activities under the samagra shiksha on education of children belonging to socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
- Act as clearing house for researches and developed materials.