In a significant move, Uttar Pradesh has announced that 65,000 general teachers will be equipped to deliver specialized education to over three lakh differently-abled children. This initiative involves a 90-day cross-disability training program, to be conducted at the block level across all 75 districts of the state.
The training comprises 80 days of online sessions through an educational portal, followed by 10 days of offline training facilitated by master trainers. Collaboratively developed with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, UNICEF, Site Servers, and Change Ink Foundation, this cross-disability module is a pioneering effort.
Amresh Chandra, the spokesperson for Change Ink Foundation, highlights that the training for nodal teachers aligns with the standards of the National Education Policy 2020. It extensively covers the educational development of specially-abled children, focusing on specific learning abilities and collaborating with Early Intervention Home-based Education.
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The comprehensive module addresses various aspects, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, visual and hearing impairments, intellectual disabilities, inclusive teaching, classroom management, individualized assessment, adaptation of teaching-learning materials, and the use of ICT for parent counseling.
Amresh Chandra emphasizes that this training for nodal teachers takes into account the diverse capabilities of specially-abled children. Currently, 2,300 specially-abled children are enrolled in primary schools in the state, with approximately 2,300 special teachers providing education.
These specialized educators, holding degrees in special education and diplomas in physiotherapy and audiology, also serve as master trainers among the 2,246 special teachers at the block level.
