Lok Sabha Question No. 216 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Education of Children having Mental/Neuro Disorder under NEP
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Guman Singh Damor

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.216 ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## Education of Children having Mental/Neuro Disorder under NEP

## †*216. SHRI GUMAN SINGH DAMOR:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the provision in the New Education Policy for special children suffering from mental/neuro disorders;
- (b) whether special training is being imparted to teachers appointed to teach such children;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government will consider the same;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  employment  oriented  education  to  such children;
- (e) if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) if not, whether the Government will consider the same?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

- (a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 216 FOR REPLY ON 18.12.2023 ASKED BY SHRI GUMAN SINGH DAMOR, HON'BLE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT REGARDING 'EDUCATION OF CHILDREN HAVING MENTAL/NEURO DISORDER UNDER NEP'.

(a)  to  (c)  The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  is  in  complete  consonance  with  the provisions  of  the  Rights  of  Persons  with  Disabilities (RPwD)  Act,  2016  and  endorses  all  its recommendations with regard to school education.

Education  is  in  the  concurrent  list  of  the  Constitution  and  majority  of  the  schools  are under the domain of respective State and UT Governments. State and UT Governments are the appropriate Governments under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

The  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Samagra  Shiksha  launched  in  2018-19,  has dedicated Inclusive Education component for the education of Children with Special Needs (IE for  CwSN) covering  all  CwSN  with  one  or  more  disabilities  as  mentioned  in  the  schedule  of disabilities of the RPwD Act, 2016 including children with neuro-disorders like cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder and disability caused due to chronic neurological conditions. It aims to look  at  education  of  CwSN  in  a  continuum  from  Pre-Primary  to  Class  XII  studying  in Government, Government-aided and local body schools.

The good education, particularly for children with neuro-disorders like ASD and ADHD starts with the screening at the school, which in turn may lead to identification and certification of the disability making them eligible for the provisions under inclusive education component of Samagra  Shiksha  to  support  their  learning  in  the  nearby  inclusive  school.  The  screening  of students  with  special  needs  including  children  with  ASD  and  SLD  is  currently  being  done through the PRASHAST App.

Capacity building of general teachers and special educators on meeting learning needs to provide quality education to children with special needs and improve their learning outcomes, are  also  covered.  There  is  a  dedicated  National  Initiative  for  School  Heads'  and  Teachers' Holistic  Advancement  (NISHTHA)  Module  which  aims  to  build  competencies  among  all  the teachers and school principals at the elementary stage. A five-day Capacity Building Programme for  general  teachers  in  Inclusive  Education  has  been  included  in  NISHTHA  -  Equitable  and Inclusive Education for 2023-24.

(d)  to  (f)  With  a  view  to  provide  quality  vocational  training  with  high  employability  focusing only  on  Person  with  Disabilities,  the  National  Action  Plan  for  Skill  Development  of  PwDs (NAP-SDP),  a  dedicated  skill  development  programme  for  PwDs  was  launched  by  the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in March 2015. The key objectives of the Scheme are:

a. To enhance skills of Persons with Disabilities; provisioning of quality vocational Skill Training to Divyangjans to enable them to have gainful employment.

b. To enable PWDs to become self-reliant, productive and contribute members of society and stand up on their own feet.

The Vocational / Skill training (Short Term/Long Term) under NAP-SDP is provided by a network of skill training partners led by Government sector/Public Sector/ training institutions like VRCs, Private Training Institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations.