Guidelines for schools that already exist and schools that want to join the Board about how to help children with special needs.
CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
(An Autonomous Organisation under the Ministry of Human Resource)
No. CBSE/AFF/2023
Date: 06/03/2023
Circular No. 05/2023
To,
All the Heads & Managers of the Schools
Sub: Guidelines for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) provisions for existing Schools and Schools seeking affiliation with the Board
It is being re-iterated that the Board has incorporated in Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018 under Rule No. 4.7.3 that “the school shall provide proper facilities like, ramps in toilets and at entry/exit points for wheelchair users and auditory signals in elevators / lifts and other possible infrastructural facilities in accordance with the provisions laid down in RPWD Act- 2016.” and under Rule 14.5.2. “School shall promote inclusion of student with special needs in the normal school as per provisions of the Rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 and in conformity with the National; Policy of Education.”
Inclusive Education is also an important component under Samagra Shiksha Scheme which lays emphasis on improving quality of education for all students, including Children with Special Needs (CwSN). The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reiterates the need for barrier-free access to children with special needs for providing equitable educational opportunities.
However it has been noticed that the schools are not adhering with the provisions of Affiliation ByeLaws of the Board in regard of the infrastructural facilities like ramps/lift, CwSN facilities in toilets etc. Some schools have built the ramp only at entry/exit points or ground floor while there are many
educational activities like laboratories, library and other co-curricular activities conducted on different floors of school building. Due to non-availability of ramp / lift facility on all floors of school building, these activities are not accessible to the students with special needs.
It is therefore imperative that provisions for all children to attend schools are created and efforts are made to identify and remove barriers. It is equally important to safeguard the rights of children with special needs if the goal of ‘Education for All’ is to be achieved. The Board has emphasized the promotion of Inclusive Education in schools. Inclusive education setup refers to equitable and nondiscriminatory arrangement where each child is valued, accepted and respected.
Hence, all CBSE affiliated schools and the schools seeking affiliation with the Board are advised to comply with the Children with Special Needs (CwSN) guidelines as per Annexure A.
(Anurag Tripathi)
Secretary
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