Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Trained Teachers for Children with Special Needs
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Asaduddin Owaisi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Trained Teachers for Children with Special Needs

## 144. SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  there  is  an  acute  shortage  of  trained  teachers  to  take  care  of  the  children  with special needs (CWSN) in the country;

(b) if so, the number of such children in the country and number of teachers available for them;

(c)  whether  Right  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  Act  applies  to  all  schools  including schools admitting such children; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and steps taken or being taken by Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a)  & (b) It  is  to  bring  to  notice  that  Education  is  in  Concurrent  list  of  subject.  Under Samagra Shiksha, there is  a  dedicated  component  for  Inclusive  Education  for  Children  with Special  Needs  (CwSN)  through  which  separate  resource  support  has  been  made  available through  the  appointment  of  special  educators  in  order  to  appropriately  address  the  needs  of CwSN within the general school.  In addition, various provisions are made available for the educational needs such as, identification & assessment camps, provision of aids, appliances, assistive devices & teaching learning materials (TLMs) etc.

As per Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the Special Educators may be posted at the block or cluster level or as per the requirement and can operate in an itinerant mode, covering a group of schools where children with special needs are enrolled. The Special Educators on itinerant mode provide support to general teachers to address the diversified and unique needs of special needs  students.  As  per  UDISE+  (2019-20  prov.),  there  are  22,49,069  CwSN  enrolled  in schools. Under Samagra Shiksha for the year 2021-2022 financial support is provided to 28439

Special  Educators  in  Government  and  Government  aided  schools.    390323  schools  are provided resource support by these Special Educators on itinerant mode.

(c)  to  (d)  The  Samagra  Shiksha  Scheme  is  governed  and  regulated  by  the  provisions  of  the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 and supports all States & UTs in implementation of the Act. The RTE Act, 2009 enshrines the entitlement to free and compulsory  elementary  education,  access  to  school  and  barrier  free  access  for  all  children including  children  with  special  needs.  Further,  the  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020 advocates full equity and inclusion as the cornerstone of education to ensure that all students are able to thrive in the education system. It also underscores within its framework, education of  children  with  special  needs  in  order  to  ensure  equitable  quality  schooling.  The  Samagra Shiksha scheme has also been aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020 to ensure that all  children  have  access  to  quality  education  with  an  equitable  and  inclusive  classroom environment.

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