Streaming and Education for All 
Target Group
Tools
Statistical Techniques
Major Findings
Suggestions
Working group -  Education of the Disabled
Integrated Education for the Disabled children
Special and General School

Streaming and Education for All

the main stream of education may be given appropriate priority in Educational Planning. the approach to the education of the handicapped to reach the goal off " Education for All " and to obtain more advantage .

Inclusive Education is a means to provide equal educational opportunity to disabled children irrespective of handicap.

Target Group

Handicapped children

Tools
1. Questionnaire for teachers, parents, administers
2. Unstructured interview for special needs children

Statistical Techniques

1. Computation of Percentage
2. Computation of value

Major Findings
1. Special needs children must stay with their parents and have their education in normal schools.
2. Special needs must be given orientation so that they can effectively administer and implement inclusive education in their schools.
3. The Vernacular and audio-visual media must be involved to a greater extent.
4. Community and N.G.0 participation should be strengthened.
5. Financial Support should reach the students at the beginning of the year.
6. One language formula should be used.
7. Remedial classes should be conducted.
8. Resources facilities must be made available.
9. All general school teachers must be trained.

Suggestions

·         Increase the access.

·         Empower them through enrolment, retention and education.

·         Set the ground for Pre-primary and primary education.

·         Build confidence in them and in their parents.

·         Ensure Community involvement.

·         Effective convergence of resources.

·         Effective Co-ordination between agencies.

·         Political support.

·         Support from press, media etc.

·         Maximize the effort of N.G.0s.

·         Concentration in District specific planning.

·         Awareness among the rural masses.

·         Vigorous sensitization among parents, teachers, administration etc.

·         Maximum opportunity for peer group interaction.

·         Bring out attitude change towards the disabled.

·         Adapt the general curriculum, and provide aids to facilitate learning.

·         Take into consideration the non-educational facilities.

·         Utilize the facilities in special schools.

·         Change the role of special school as a resource centre.

·         Provide barrier free environment.

·         Give periodic training to all school teachers.

·         Appoint teacher aid and resource teachers.

Working group -  Education of the Disabled

Special aids and equipment should be provided for each category of disabled children for their placement in regular school. Celebration of the International year for Disabled Persons the education of children with other mild handicaps will be common with that of others.

A child with disability, who can be educated in regular school, should be educated there only. The Persons with Disabilities firm commitment towards Equal Opportunities, Protection of rights and full Participation. The Act among many other things deals with education of the Disabled rather

1- ensure that every child with disability has access to free 2-ducation in an appropriate environment till he attains the age of eighteen years.

3- Endeavour to promote the integration of students with disabilities in the normal school.

4- equip the Special Schools for children with disabilities with vocational training facilities.

5- conduct part time classes for children with disabilities who have completed primary education

6- conduct special part time classes for providing functional literacy for children in the age group of sixteen and above.

7- impart education through Open schools and Open Universities.

Children with profound disabilities are admitted in special schools. Children whose education is possible along with the normal children are brought under the integrated system and inclusive system in general schools. Most of the special schools for the Special Needs are residential schools.

Integrated Education for the Disabled children

The Integrated Education for the Disabled children aiming that every child with a disability has access to free education in an appropriate environment. to providing the least restrictive environment to children with special needs so that they may grow and develop like other children. Integrated education, promotes healthy social relationship between the normal and disabled children at all levels and reduces the physical distance between them through equal participation in social activities. It provides an equal educational opportunity and prepares them for life, like other members of society. It also advocates that the differently able children are as important for the healthy growth and development of society as their normal peers. Therefore it is imperative that their needs should be taken care of in all academic and non-academic activities of the society.

Special and General School

Should a disabled child go to a "normal" school or a special school?    Some countries, at the moment, disabled children go to a special school.  "Normal" schools do not have facilities or accept disabled children .

It should depend on the disability ,whether

(a) physical OR

(b) mental

PHYSICAL:

If the disability is only physical and not mental and hopefully the school is "disability friendly", access for wheelchairs (wide doors and ramps etc) then there is no reason why a physically disabled person should not attend a "normal" school.

MENTAL:

If the disability is mental then it should depend on the extent of the learning capabilities (mild or severe) of the disabled individual.

With a mild learning disability a "one-to-one" teacher is required and this is dependent in the school encouraging such a scheme and the local authority having the resources to pay for this service.  If  this is possible then there is no reason why a mildly handicapped person (e.g. Downs syndrome) should not attend a "normal" school.

With a severe learning disability it is only fair on the individual that he/she is placed in a school/day centre that copes for this type of disability.  The teachers and/or careers are specially trained and the parents feel more comfortable knowing their children are properly cared for.  The severity of the mental disability would make an individual unsuitable for main stream schooling.

Years ago education for children with special needs were non-existent.  Over the years the situation has improved.  Parents can now fight for their children to be accepted in any school they wish to place their children,  but, parents can sometimes make mistakes and do more harm to their child.  The Education Department says all children have a right to an education.  They are also saying that children with special needs should go to a "normal" school.  How?  Most schools in some countries are not equipped to handle disabled children.  How does one get to the first floor without lifts?  Can teachers who already have close to forty children in a class, now have disabled children, with wheelchairs in the same class?  What about the special equipment, e.g. computers.  The mind boggles at the adjustments a disabled child would have to deal with in a "normal " school.   What about the "normal" child.  Yes disabled children want to be treated like "normal" children and we are "normal" children, but can we expect a "normal" child to work at the pace that a disabled child works.  Are we not hindering progress for a "normal" child.

 Education at an ordinary school offers plenty of contact with ordinary children.  You will make lots of friends and learn lots of  things.  Teachers however will not have training in special needs.  They don't know what a disabled child is all about.  They have huge classes and a disabled child will be left behind.  "Normal" children can be a nuisance to a disabled child.   CHILDREN CAN BE CRUEL.  Too many things can be done for the disabled child thereby preventing the disabled child from learning further.  Who will help with toilet and eating?    All these are basic needs for a disabled child and at present cannot be met in a "normal" school some countries.  If you are part of a "normal" school , please share your ideas with us via E.Mail.

In America, disabled children go to school with "normal" children.  Each child has a helper.  They either attend "normal" classes or go to separate classes, depending on the child's disability.  In America parents don't pay have the expense of school fees or bus fees..  The helpers are there at the expense of the government.

But some countries does not have free education.  Can the some counties Government afford to give each disabled child a helper if the disabled child attends a "normal" schools?