“Advocate for Disabled Children's Rights” Raised Voice for Including Impaired Children in School Events

A Step Towards Inclusivity: Arts and Culture Festivals Expand to Special Schools

Inclusive education is the fundamental right of all students under the Right To Education Act 2009, this approach is intended to welcome and support students regardless of their abilities, learning styles, or disabilities. The Integrated Education Department has recently sent out a circular to all the Chief Educational Officers, to extend the deadline for uploading the details of winners from school-level arts and culture competitions in the Educational Information Management System (EMIS) to September 27. This circular also directed headmasters of all schools, including special schools to organise these competitions.

The department has been organizing Kalaithiruvizha, an arts and cultural festival in government schools for the last three years. Recently it included the primary classrooms and government-aided schools in the event. Students with special abilities from schools hosted competitions in this event two years ago. However, new regulations now clear that competitions shouldn't be held in special education facilities for children with visual or hearing impairments.

Unaware of this new regulation, a special school's headmaster proceeded to arrange the contests and attempted to upload the outcomes to the EMIS. Subsequently, district officials from the School Education Department notified the headmaster that special schools were not part of this year's celebration as per the circular.

This decision was strongly opposed by the Advocates for the Rights of Kids with Disabilities, claiming it went against the fundamentals of inclusive education and firmly demanded that schools under the Department of Welfare for People with Disabilities be merged into the Department of Education. In response to this matter, the department has issued a new circular in response to the concerns, instructing chief educational officers to make sure special school headmasters oversee the competitions as well. Furthermore, September 27 is now the deadline for uploading the findings.

Editor’s Note:

The  Kalaithiruvizha, an arts and cultural festival, has been organized by the Education Department for the last three years and all government school students take part in this event to showcase their talents, but the disabled children who were actively participating in this event from last two years were barred to participate as per the notice issued by the Integrated Education Department. This notice was opposed by Advocates for the Rights of Kids with Disabilities and compelled the Integrated Education Department to reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity by instructing special schools to participate in the upcoming arts and culture festivals. The department extended the deadline for uploading competition results, reflecting a renewed focus on celebrating the talents of all students, regardless of their abilities.

Skoobuzz appreciates the Education Department for timely action and the Advocates who raised the voice for disabled children and reminds all of us of the importance of a truly inclusive educational environment that recognizes and nurtures diversity.