Primary Education: Only 123 temporary teachers for 17,600 special children

In PMC area, there are over 19, 700 students with special needs studying in various schools, including private schools.

Written by Ardhra Nair | : November 22, 2014

As many as 17,644 students with special needs studying in government-run schools in the district have only 123 special educators teaching them.

Also, despite the fact that nearly ten years have passed since the scheme that made special educators compulsory for special children was implemented, the state has not made a single post in this regard. The result: All the 123 teachers are temporary with a maximum term of six months which is renewed half yearly.

According to the Rehabilitation Council of India, the teacher pupil ratio for special educators is 1:8. The ratio will be same for normal classes and pre-primary. In case of secondary classes, the ratio is 1:5.

“The government is yet to make posts for special educators. Hence we have all the teachers on contractual basis. The contractual teachers are supposed to give home based education. But the number is so less and the number of students who need their help is so high that the teachers hardly have time to go and teach in homes of the affected children,” said a PMC official.

In PMC area, there are over 19, 700 students with special needs studying in various schools, including private schools. Of these, 4,428 students study in schools run by PMC. But for these 4428 students, the PMC has only 15 special educators.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/only-123-temporary-teachers-for-17600-special-children/#sthash.KweleBpN.dpuf