Centre, NIOS, and NCERT Join Hands to Advance Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities

In a significant move to promote inclusive education, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has entered into a tripartite agreement with the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Ministers Virendra Kumar and Dharmendra Pradhan, aims to create an enabling educational environment for children with disabilities by aligning with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

This strategic collaboration will focus on revamping curriculum and learning materials to ensure they are accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the needs of learners with disabilities. NCERT will play a key role in modifying textbooks and curricular content to reflect these values.

As part of the agreement, NIOS will grant recognition to special schools operated by NGOs under the Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), designating them as Special Accredited Institutions for Education of the Disabled (SAIEDs). These institutions will offer a broad spectrum of academic and vocational education—from foundational levels to senior secondary—supported by NIOS in terms of admissions, exams, study materials, and necessary accommodations during assessments.

Union Minister Virendra Kumar highlighted the initiative as a step toward realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive growth, emphasizing that every child, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to receive quality education. “This MoU affirms that inclusive education is not a luxury but a fundamental right,” he said.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan underscored the broader societal impact of inclusive education. “Creating a just and empathetic society begins with our schools. NEP 2020 is a progressive framework guiding us, and in the coming year, we are also prioritising infrastructure like accessible toilets to help reduce dropout rates,” he noted.

DEPwD Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal reiterated the commitment to widen access for students with disabilities, including facilitating their entry into premier institutions such as IITs and IIMs. He also praised NIOS for its innovative step of introducing Indian Sign Language as a subject at the secondary level.

Echoing the vision, Sanjay Kumar, Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy, stated that the ultimate mission is to ensure every child with a disability is able to complete their schooling and access equal opportunities in higher education and beyond.

Source: PTI