In an effort to make school education more inclusive for children with special needs, the Delhi government is actively involving Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in training and capacity-building activities for its schools. This decision aligns with recommendations from an internal committee of the Directorate of Education (DoE), formed last year to improve the school environment for students and teachers. The government has accepted all recommendations, with implementation currently underway.
The Delhi government has taken a significant step to enhance accessibility in school education by involving Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in key activities. On January 27, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) issued a circular directing all District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) to prioritize PwDs in content development, course design, and training programs. SCERT, which oversees nine DIETs in Delhi, focuses on improving teachers' skills, attitudes, and knowledge application to elevate school education quality.
The circular recommends engaging qualified PwDs as resource persons, subject experts, or facilitators in trainings, workshops, seminars, and orientation programs where possible. Training methods, materials, and delivery modes should adhere to universal design and accessibility principles as far as feasible. "The initiative aims to promote inclusive practices, enhance the quality and relevance of training programmes, and uphold the principles of equal opportunity and participation," the circular stated.
Through a separate circular, SCERT has invited nominations from PwDs for roles in content development, curriculum design, and professional development initiatives run by SCERT and DIETs. A senior SCERT official explained that this formalizes previously ad hoc practices. "We are including teachers and academics with disabilities from universities for material development and training. Earlier, this was not an officially declared practice. The step is being taken after directions from the DoE committee; steps are now being taken to improve content and training with a clear focus on accessibility."
Another official emphasized equity and mainstreaming, stating, "Instead of segregation or special classrooms, the focus has to be on mainstreaming… Representation of persons with disabilities in content development and need-assessment workshops, along with special educators, is essential to achieve this." The DoE panel's key recommendation was that inclusive training would address existing gaps, making it logical to involve those with special needs as resource persons.
The committee also suggested increasing resource centers for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) from the current 24 to 28. Official data from 2023-24 indicates 35,887 CWSN enrolled in Delhi government schools from pre-primary to higher secondary levels. This effort targets raising awareness of CWSN issues in schools and meeting their needs through appropriate materials, aids, and teacher training.