JOIN USIt was a memorable day for six differently-abled children as they entered regular school for the first time. The sense of joy and excitement was palpable on the faces of the kids, dressed in white and grey, aged between 10-12 and suffer from mental disabilities.
The children were among 44 from a Delhi Government-run home, Asha Kiran, for the mentally challenged. They have been selected for admission in regular schools.
“This is the first time that children from a government-run home for mentally challenged are being sent to a regular school,” said Ashok Agarwal, member, Advisory Committee constituted by the Directorate of Education for education of children with disabilities.
“Many children with mental illnesses have been admitted to regular schools in the past by their parents and guardians. But what is unique this time is that government officials have taken guardianship of these children to send them to schools,” said R P Yadav, Deputy Director (Education), North West Delhi.
The process of identifying the children and preparing them for a school started in April last year. After initial tussle between the departments of Social Welfare and Education, the issue was resolved, making it possible for the children to come out of the confines of Asha Kiran.
Counselors prepared them by telling them the effectiveness of education in life.
The possibility of sending these children to school depended on their level of the intelligent quotient scale. Children who score between 55-70 can be educated, 40-55 are trainable and below 40 fall in custodial category in which they need someone to look after them full-time. Children in the first two categories are being sent to a regular school.
While the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act was passed in 1995, introduction of the Right to Education (RTE) has given a helping hand to these children.
“The Disabilities Act provides guidelines for a section of mentally challenged children to be admitted to regular schools. Combining with the RTE, it has become mandatory to implement it,” said Yadav.