3% seats in all KVs & JNVs are reserved for differently abled children: Union Education Minister

The Union Education Minister shared various measures taken by the government for differently-abled children in KVs& JNVs.

Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan in a written reply in the Lok Sabha informed that 3 percent seats of total available seats for fresh admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) are horizontally reserved for differently-abled children. According to the official press release shared by the education minister, the government has implemented various measures for differently-abled children in KVs& JNVs such as “Barrier free access for differently-abled students is an integral part of Vidyalaya building design. Ramps and special toilets are constructed in schools as well as hostel buildings, trained teachers to help the students, services of Special Educators to facilitate the teaching-learning process among differently-abled children, need-based procurement of assistive augmented devices.”

“Exemptions from payment of VVN and Tuition Fees and the facility of compensation of time in examination, seating arrangement on the ground floor and providing the facility of scribe/writer in all examinations for all students with benchmark disability studying in different classes are extended as per CBSE guidelines are also among the steps taken by the government according to the reply given by the Union Education Minister.

The Government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and the said Act mandates the Government and local authorities to take measures for providing inclusive education to Children with Disabilities (CwDs). Further, the Act also mandates appropriate Government and local authorities to ensure that every child with benchmark disabilities (disability of 40% or more) has access to free education in an appropriate environment till he attains the age of 18 years, the press release informed.

The minister also informed that there is a dedicated component for Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) under the Centrally sponsored Samagra through which various provisions are made available for the educational needs such as, identification & assessment camps, provision of aids, appliances, assistive devices, teaching-learning materials (TLMs), etc.

Stating that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 advocates full equity and inclusion as the cornerstone of education to ensure that all students are able to thrive in the education system, Pradhan added that it also underscores within its framework, education of CwSN in order to ensure equitable quality schooling. The Samagra Shiksha scheme has also been aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020 to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment.

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