MARGAO
A study conducted by Sangath has revealed there may not be many children in the secondary schools in Goa with learning disabilities. However, the exercise found out children with learning difficulties, including problems relating to acquisition of language skills and emotional issues, in some of the schools of Salcete and Quepem
Sangath’s three-year “Beyond Boundaries” inclusive education program in 25 schools in Salcete and Quepem talukas of South Goa, supported by Colorcon Asia Ltd Verna through its CSR initiative, has found that children require remedial teaching and school teachers need to be equipped with teaching aids for the benefit of children with learning difficulties.
“During our three-year programme in 17 of these 25 schools, we did not come across children with learning disabilities. But, certainly, there were many children who were in need of remedial education as they faced learning difficulties due to several reasons, including acquisition of language skills, emotional issues et al,” Project Lead, Sangath, Percy Cardozo, told the media.
She said the NGO is in the process of compiling a report on the feedback and inputs received from the secondary students and the school teachers on the ground reality before submitting a comprehensive report to the government
for action.
With the NGO completing three years in this field in Salcete and Quepem schools, the NGO has now drawn up plans to take this work forward in the Sanguem taluka of South Goa.
The Beyond Boundaries programme of Sangath is aimed at assisting schools in identifying children with
learning difficulties and providing remedial education to retain them in mainstream education. “Sangath intervention began with teaching orientation on challenges faced by students, followed by teacher training to identity and assess students facing challenges and finally the delivery of remedial education training to teachers through a demonstrative approach,” she said.
Cardozo added: “Over the last three years, the Beyond Boundaries project team had delivered remedial education programme to 392 students across 17 schools in Salcete and Quepem.” She hoped the programme will sustain in the schools beyond Sangath support.
Incidentally, in a recent dissemination meeting held to mark the end of the programme, Anuradha Joshi, the Goa State Commissioner for Disability categorically stated that children with intellectual and other disabilities have a right to equitable mainstream education under the provisions of the Rights of People with Disabiliteis Act 2016 and that schools cannot turn down admissions to them anymore.
Similarly, Director of State Council of Education and Training, Nagaraj Honnekeri, said that every child has a different potential. He observed, “We must identify the ability of the child and the teachers have an important role to play in his or her development.”
