Lok Sabha Question No. 1221 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Schools for Mentally Challenged Children
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SAKUNTALA LAGURI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO † 1221 TO BE ANSWERED ON 7 TH  DECEMBER, 2015

## Schools for Mentally Challenged Children

## †1221. SHRIMATI SAKUNTALA LAGURI:

Will  the  Minister  of  HUMAN  RESOURCE  DEVELOPMENT मानव संसाधन िवकास मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the enrollment of children with 40 per cent mental retardation is banned in the Government or recognised schools in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether it is a fact that the mental growth of such type of children is faster if they are placed in the school with normal children and if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(c) the steps taken/ being taken by the Government to ensure enrollment of the said children to Government and recognized schools ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): No, Madam.

(b) & (c): Section 3 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for free and compulsory education to all children from 6-14 years of age. This also  includes  children  with  mental  retardation.  Section  29  of  the  Act  mentions  all  round development of the child, building up child's knowledge, potentiality, talent and development of  physical  and  mental  abilities  to  the  fullest  extent  through  learning  through  activities, discovery and exploration in a child friendly and child-centered manner and comprehensive and  continuous  evaluation  of  child's  understanding  of  knowledge.  Section  30  of  the  Act states  that  no  child  shall  be  required  to  pass  any  Board  examination  till  completion  of elementary education.

As per the National Curriculum Framework (NCF-2005), the culture of the school must be one  that  highlights  the  students'  identities  as  'learners'  and  creates  an  environment  that enhances  the  potential  and  interests  of  each  child.  All  these  are  steps  to  foster  the  mental growth of children with mental retardation in schools with normal children.

National Council for Education Research and Training has prepared handbooks on curricular adaptations  for children with visual impairment, hearing impairment, cognitive impairment and  intellectual  impairment  for  general  teachers  at  primary  and  upper  primary  levels.  Till date,  1.58  lakh  general  teachers  have  been  trained  on  this  material.  Besides,  9464  regular teachers were trained in 2014-15 and 5346 were trained in 2015-16 on the needs of children with mental retardation.

Thus,  the  focus  of  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA)  is  on  inclusive  education  wherein  all children with special needs (CWSN), including children with mental retardation are placed in mainstream schools  to  promote  holistic  development  of  these  children. As  per  Unified District  Information  System  for  Education  2013-14  data,  4.91  lakh  children  with  mental retardation are enrolled in regular elementary schools under SSA.

SSA  provides  Rs.  3000/-  per  child  per  annum  for  assessment,  provision  of  free  aids  and appliances, teacher training, engagement of resource persons exclusively for CWSN, support services and barrier free access. Similarly, under the component of Inclusive Education for Disabled  at  Secondary  Stage  under  the  integrated  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan 100%  central  assistance  is  provided  through  State  government/UT  for  student  oriented assistance at the secondary level.

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