Orientation on Children with Special Needs

“If a school or teacher can touch the life of just one CWSN student, then that is a success story”

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 13  

An orientation programme on Children with Special Needs (CWSN) under Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) for principals and headmasters of government schools in Dimapur district was held at EBRC, Nagarjan (Kuda), on Tuesday.  

The orientation programme was organized by Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), District Education Mission Office, Dimapur.  

DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, who was the guest of honour in his address, said the issues relating to CWSN is not a one-dimensional subject matter but involves lots of complexities and challenges.  

The DC said when it comes to CWSN, one has to deal with the heart and not take the schematic or routine-manner approach like any other scheme or mission. He said the issue of CWSN should be basically in the form of a movement and that schools provide the best platform to address the plight of CWSN and that it is the responsibility of schools to give all encouragement and support to the below-average students. Yhome said the best test of a teacher is not how to teach the bright students to excel but rather to teach and encourage the below-average students and CWSN how to lead normal lives.  

“If a school or teacher can touch the life of just one CWSN student, then that is a success story,” he said.   Deputy district education officer (DDEO) Dimapur, R Amongla Jamir, said the two flagship programmes RMSA and SSA have provisions for special care and attention to CWSN in schools. The DDEO appealed to head of schools and teachers appointed to teach CWSN to go the extra mile so that these children are not denied the opportunity to study. She further called upon the teachers to be sensitive to the problems of CWSN.  

Dr. Imlitemsu Ozukum, MD (PMR), in-charge DDRC, District Hospital Dimapur, the resource person of the orientation in his presentation said a child with special needs is a child who requires special attention and specific necessities that other children do not.  

Dr. Ozukum stressed on early detection of CWSN early detection and the need to observe the child closely over time, document any concerns about the child’s development, consult with a mentor or supervisor to receive feedback about the concern, diplomatically address the issue with the parents, and refer the child for assessment.  

Dwelling on plight of CWSN in education, he said many CWSN are educated apart from their peers and placed in inferior educational settings that greatly reduce their chances of becoming productive members of society and serve to increase their isolation. He also children with mild disabilities are rarely mainstreamed into normal classrooms and that many spend their entire childhood in full-time residential homes and experience lasting negative consequences into adulthood.  

District co-ordinator, RMSA Dimapur, Vitoho Chophy, chaired the orientation programme.