NAGALAND: ‘All schools should focus on a more inclusive education system’

NBSE urges schools to understand legal mandates as per Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

Dimapur, February 24 (MExN): The Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) has reiterated that all children deserve the right to education, including those with Special Needs. 

Asserting its commitment towards ‘equity and inclusion’, Asano Sekhose, Chairperson, NBSE in a notification said, as stated in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the fundamental principle that guides good education is that all children are capable of learning. “Thus, equity and inclusion are the cornerstones of our education system,” Sekhose stated.

In the notification, she highlighted that NEP 2020 emphasises inclusive education, ensuring that every child, including those with special needs, has access to quality education in regular schools. It advocates for creating a conducive and supporting environment within schools to accommodate the diverse learning needs of students with disabilities. It underscores the importance of providing adequate infrastructure, resources, and support services within schools to facilitate the learning and inclusion of students with disabilities. Para 6: Equitable and Inclusive Education: Learning for All - NEP 2020 deals with the provisions and strategies for such category of children.

“The Board acknowledges its registered schools that have shown commitment and effort to create a supporting learning environment, fostering inclusivity and catering to the diverse needs of all students. The Board understands the challenges and difficulties faced by schools, however, as mandated by NEP 2020, all schools should focus on a more inclusive education system,” Sekhose stated.

NBSE reiterated the following points to schools for strict compliance and called upon all schools to understand the legal mandates as per Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016: 

• All institutions under NBSE are directed to admit students without discrimination so that no child loses any opportunity to learn and excel because of circumstances of birth or background.

• Children with special needs/ disabilities should be given due attention and their varied needs should be addressed. 

• Schools should connect and work together with the parents to address the needs of the students. The plan of action to be undertaken should be disseminated to the parents so that parents can play a supportive role for education of their children. 

• NEP 2020 stresses on development of life skills alongside academic learning, aiming to move away from a solely marks- oriented approach to education.

•     Schools must refrain from giving ‘passed’ Transfer Certificates to students based on low scores in academics, especially if the student has spent their foundational years in the same school.

•     Teachers should plan and advocate remedial classes and provide conducive environment to address slow and poor learners. Schools should give provision for re-test, after remedial classes to students, and not only for formality. Schools must work towards curbing failures and school drop-outs. 

• “Teachers should make classroom processes flexible and inclusive, and reflective of diverse needs of students. Assessments should be done using multiple modes to ensure that all students can meaningfully demonstrate their learning.” (NCF,SE 2023)

• “Teachers should also aim to encourage gifted students/ students with special talents in the classroom by giving them supplementary/additional enrichment materials and guidance.” (NCF,SE 2023)

• “Schools should understand that having trained special educators is necessary but not sufficient. Teachers need to be able to respond to the context such that principles of equity and inclusiveness are of the highest priority-this should be a fundamental ingredient of teacher professional developments.” (NCF,SE 2023)

•     School Heads and teachers should familiarize themselves with the Rules relating to Students with Disabilities notified by the Board regarding the accommodations/ exemptions given to Students with Disabilities, and guide the parents and students to avail them. 

• Workshops/seminars/webinars or any awareness programmes conducted by the Board should be attended. Schools are also encouraged to organize Awareness programmes on Inclusive Education for teachers.

“ The Board requests all schools to follow this notification in letter and spirit,” the Chairperson added.