DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 4 (MExN): The Special Education Teacher's Association Nagaland (SETAN) today stated that the importance of proper implementation of central schemes and projects like the Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) meant for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) cannot be stressed enough and the need of trained special educators is dire. A press note from the Advisor, SETAN informed that special education is a system of education where special needs children are given education in a way that addresses their individual differences, abilities and strength by the Special Educator. In a democratic nation the development of the abilities and skills of each person is considered a human right and it becomes the duty of the nation, society, educationists, parents and the government to provide special education for those children who have exceptional abilities and potentialities which varies from one person to another in their nature of learning and category of the PWD, the SETAN pointed out. It further asserted that education is a basic right of every child and in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Act 2006, 2016 of article 24, parties should recognize the rights of persons with disabilities to education. “With a view to realizing this equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation, state parties shall ensure an Inclusive system of education at all levels and lifelong learning. It has directed for the full development of human potential and sense of dignity and selfworth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity,” it added. Further, the RPWD Act emphasized on the development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential for enabling them to participate effectively in a free society. Special education programme involves the individually planned, systematically monitored, arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipments, materials and accessible settings. These interventions generate a higher level of academic achievement in persons who have Intellectual Impairment, Locomotor Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, Vision Impairment, Deafblindness, Hearing Impairment or Hard of Hearing and other disabilities. This system, the SETAN said, will bring benefit not only to children but families as well, while also enabling more integrated opportunities to spread awareness and barrier free environment without discrimination. In the present scenario, the SETAN observed that compared to the rest of the states of India, Nagaland is one of the least inadequate in terms of quality, network coverage in the area of disability and rehabilitation services and programmes. The larger population of persons with special needs (29,631 as per the 2011census) are often neglected, humiliated and looked down upon, and the reason being lack of awareness and empathy, the SETAN said. Hence, it is the duty of every individual, parents, society, special educators, government, various organisations and civic bodies as a whole to understand the human values, abilities, capacities and nature of the exceptional children to provide special education appropriate to suit their needs, it appealed.
