International Center for Special Needs Education
Evidences suggest that around 100 million children in the world do not have access to primary education. It is also estimated that less than one per cent of the world's disabled children attend school in developing countries. Children who have physical and learning disabilities need special teaching and different kind of facilities.In its absence they tend to get marginalised. There is exclusion instead of inclusion. All this makes the persons with disabilities suffer from a feeling of inferiority.
Thus this section of the society has to be brought within the framework of human rights which may regard them as equal to the non disables where rights and opportunities are concerned instead of only focussing on the requirement for rehabilitation. There needs to be acceptance by the society that the individuals are unique in their needs and it is the society which has to provide institutional changes significant to achieve the desired results for its disabled citizens. India and many other countries of Asia Pacific region have taken a number of measures for the promoting and implementing inclusive education of the children with special needs.
UNESCO and Government of India have come up with a proposal for the establishment of an International Center for Special Needs Education in New Delhi. This centre is likely to cater to the Asia Pacific Region. This would be instrumental in providing quality education. This Centre is in the campus of National Council of Education Research and Training.
The Centre is expected to work according to the needs of various countries like Australia, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and New Zealand. The needs are identified under the following heads:
Training of Teachers
Resource Development
Networking/Exchange
Research
The main aim of the Centre is to endorse Inclusive Education. It would also assist in capacity building, networking, maintaining a database, documentation and information dissemination. The Centre would provide consultancy services to SAARC countries. It would also promote research and development. Capacity building involves training programme for SAARC countries, induction of the component of inclusive education in their initial training, orientation programmes for policy makers and creation of awareness among the common people.
Development programmes involve issuing of Journal of Education for Children with Special Needs by NCERT. It also enlists material development for creation of awareness for general public, parents, educational administrators, teachers, teacher educators. Collection of existing researches by questionnaires through internet would is also a part of it.. Regional level workshops would also be there. International linkages among various governments and agencies will promote of inclusive education.
NCERT would play a significant role in making the activities of this Centre operational.
