Lok Sabha Question No. 2490 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-01
Subject: Education for the Differently Abled
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: AJAY (TENI) MISRA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. † 2490 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2016

## EDUCATION FOR THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED

## † 2490.   SHRI AJAY MISRA TENI:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Board  and  education  curriculum  for  the  differently  abled  and  visually challenged  and  hearing  impaired  students  and  normal  children  is  the  same  in  the country;
- (b) if  so,  whether the Government has taken cognizance that it is quite difficult for the children with special needs and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  set  up  separate  curriculum  and  examination Board for the education of such children;
- (d) if  so,  the  manner in which it is likely to be done along with the time by when it is likely to be implemented; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

- (a) There is no separate education board for differently abled and visually challenged and hearing impaired students.  As  far  as  Central  Board  of  Secondary Education (CBSE) is concerned, there is a common syllabus for all students. Education, being a subject in the Concurrent List of the Constitution, and the majority of the schools being under the jurisdiction of the State Government, it is for the respective States to  decide  the  syllabus  in  their  schools  keeping  in  view  the  National  Curriculum Framework.
- (b) Yes Madam, the Government has taken cognizance of the difficulties of children with special needs. Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, exemplar material in inclusive teaching strategies, adapted curriculum, adapted teaching techniques and adapted

evaluation strategies has been developed. This material, meant for regular teachers, covers all disabilities, including physical, sensory, cognitive and intellectual.

The  component  of  Inclusive  Education  for  Disabled  at  Secondary  Stage (IEDSS)  under  Rashtriya  Madhyamik  Shiksha  Abhiyan  provides  inter-alia  for different  facilities  for  children  with  special  needs  such  as  appropriate  learning material i.e. Braille textbooks, audiotapes, talking books etc. as per the needs of special  children,  provision  of  assistive  aids  and  appliances  and  removal  of architectural barriers.

The Central  Board  of  Secondary  Education  (CBSE)  provides  for  various exemptions  and  facilities  to  differently  abled  students  such  as  extra  time  in examinations, facility of Amanuensis  for blind and special provisions for physically challenged candidates and provision of sign language interpreters etc. as per their affiliation and examination byelaws in order to address their difficulties.

- (c ) to (e) At  present  no  such  proposal  is  under  consideration  of  this  Department.  The National  Curriculum  Framework  -2005  provides  for  inclusive  education  and creating  an  inclusive  environment  in  the  classroom  for  all  students,  including students  with  special  needs.  Therefore,  inclusive  education  is  promoted  which aims to integrate children with special needs with the general education system.

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