Lok Sabha Question No. 5793 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-30
Subject: Decline in Enrolment of Children with Disabilities
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5793

ANSWERED ON 30.03.2026

## Decline in Enrolment of Children with Disabilities

5793.  Dr. Mohammad Jawed:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that enrolment of children with disabilities declines by over 50 per cent between elementary and higher secondary levels, despite continued allocations for
- inclusive education under Samagra Shiksha, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  can  explain  the  reasons  for  this  decline  including  the  role  of inadequate infrastructure, lack of classroom accommodations and limited assistive support and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the training of around 93,000 teachers under NCERT-NISHTHA programmes has been evaluated against outcome indicators such as retention, participation and learning levels of Children with Special Needs and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  link  future  budget  releases  to  measurable  outcomes, including functional accessibility, reduced drop-out rates and improved completion levels and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a)  &  (b):  The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP)  2020  is  in  complete  consonance  with  the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 and provides equal learning opportunities for all children including Children with Special Needs (CwSN) as identified under the  Act.  To  ensure  universal  access  to  schooling  for  all  from  pre-primary  to  Class  XII,  the Government  is  implementing  the  centrally  sponsored  scheme  Samagra  Shiksha  which  is  in alignment with the recommendations of NEP 2020, and ensures that all children have access to quality education within an equitable and inclusive classroom environment.

Through  Samagra  Shiksha,  schools  are  made  accessible  and  inclusive  by  developing CwSN-friendly infrastructure such as ramps, handrails, CwSN toilets; access through transport and escort facilities; exam accommodations; assistive devices; aids and appliances; screening and identification of CwSN, textbooks in Braille; Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Indian

Sign  Language  (ISL),  individualized  education  plan  (IEP),  support  of  special  educators  and therapists; live interaction classes in ISL through PM e-Vidya Channel etc.

However, children with intellectual and severe disabilities often move to special schools or  home-based  education,  particularly  after  Grade  V,  which  may  not  be  fully  captured  under mainstream school enrolment data of UDISE+, thereby contributing to the apparent exclusion at the time of registry in UDISE+.

(c)  &  (d):    DoSEL  had  organized  a  first  phase  Training  of  Trainers'  five  day  capacity building  program  for  general  teachers  in  Inclusive  Education  (IE)  with  all  States/UTs  and Autonomous  Bodies  under  the  National  Initiative  for  School  Heads'  and  Teachers'  Holistic Advancement on Equitable and Inclusive Education (NISHTHA) Program through NCERT during 2023-24.  For  further  cascading  this  capacity  building  program  to  more  general  teachers,  the Department has approved the training proposals of 93,345 general teachers in IE submitted by the States/UTs in the Annual Work Plan and Budgets (AWP&B) of Samagra Shiksha for the financial year 2025-26.

The Government is committed to ensure outcome-oriented implementation of Samagra Shiksha and  the  intervention  parameters  are  monitored  through  the  Output  Outcome  Monitoring Framework wherein infrastructure availability, Screening & Identification of CwSN, Availability of Special Educators and Teacher Education & Training etc. are monitored periodically.

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