Social Justice Minister Launches New Programmes for Disability Education
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The social justice and empowerment minister, Virendra Kumar on Tuesday launched two of the most important new initiatives meant to accelerate education and healthcare for children with disabilities. Both are significantly made in intent to create skilled professionals of educators and clinical psychologists to support such children.
One of the above is the four-year integrated Bachelor of Education programme: Integrated Special and Inclusive Teacher Education Programme (ISITEP). It is designed to prepare educators who can teach children with disabilities for classes foundational (up to Class 2), preparatory (Classes 3-5), middle school classes (Classes 6-8), and secondary classes (Classes 9-12). A senior official in the ministry said ISITEP promotes NEP 2020, under which it stresses quality, multi-disciplinary teacher education programs. Through the program, teachers are empowered by imparting knowledge and necessary skills to confront challenges uniquely presented by children with disabilities in different educational settings.
According to Minister Virendra Kumar, ISITEP is a tool that can fill this gap by ensuring that every educator is taught not only how to provide academic instruction but also how to understand and support the different needs that may be required by children with disabilities. “This is going to be an important step toward an inclusive learning environment for the whole nation,” he said.
Besides ISITEP, Kumar also announced the introduction of the BSc (Hons) in Clinical Psychology, a four-year programme, which is for students with a science background on completing Class 12. An assistant clinical psychologist will emerge from the programme, who can face mental health and developmental issues, especially in disabled children. This new course is conceptualized to align with guidelines laid down by NEP 2020 and is to ensure a pipeline of professionals who can offer specialized support in clinical settings.
The two initiatives are, therefore, addressing long-standing gaps between education and healthcare for people with disabilities, thus ensuring that professionals in these disciplines are well-equipped to foster inclusive growth and opportunities for those aspiring to careers in disability education and clinical psychology.
Under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the National Board of Examination in Rehabilitation (NBER) and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) also conducted a convocation ceremony. National toppers at the certificate and diploma levels in disability rehabilitation and special education were felicitated for their academic achievements during the event on this occasion.
These new programs could advance in the future leading toward an inclusive society by preparing educators and healthcare professionals to foster and develop support for children with disabilities across India.
