FRSD AND SAKSHAM TRIPURA PROJECT

FRSD ADDRESSES THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES (CWDS) UNDER THE AEGIS OF SAKSHAM TRIPURA PROJECT.

Children with disabilities (CWDs) have special needs. Different approaches have been adopted for educating the CWDs. Two major approaches are special education and integrated education. However a third approach that is the inclusive education approach have also emerged and is gaining acceptance all over the world.
Inclusive education is an approach that emphases on bringing all types of students whether with disabilities or without disabilities. The Indian Parliament has enacted right of person with disability act, 2016 which defines “inclusive education” as “a system of education wherein students with and without disability learn together and the system of teaching and learning is suitably adapted to meet the learning needs of different types of students with disabilities.”
The United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was adopted in 2006 which has played a pivotal role in recognizing the rights of the PWDs worldwide. The UNCRPD provides that CWDs shall not be discriminated against with regard to access to education. The United Nation adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Goal 4 aims for inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all. Target 4A provides for building school infrastructure CWDs friendly.

LEGAL EDUCATION : RIGHTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN INDIA

Article 20(2) of the Constitution provides that no citizen shall be Denied admission into any Education Institution maintained by the State or received aid out of State funds on the ground of religion, race, caste or language.
Every child with disability shall have the rights to free education till the age of 18 years in integrated schools or special school.
Children with disabilities shall have the right to free books, scholarships, uniform and other learning materials.
Appropriate transportation, removal of architectural barriers and restructuring of modifications in the examination system shall be ensuring for the benefit of children with disabilities.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SAKSHAM TRIPURA PROJECT

In order to implement Rights of children with special needs towards free and appropriate education the Department of School education, Government of Tripura launched Saksham Tripura Project in 2020 in partnership with 3 NGOs in which Ferrando Rehabilitation Society for Disabled is one of its partner with 40 SSA schools under 10 Special Educators and one Mentor in AMC area of West Tripura, Sipaihijala and Gomati Districts of Tripura. The aim of the project is to facilitate free and appropriate education and to increased retention rate of CWSNs in Schools.
These 10 Special educators directly provide services in Schools and also home visits to the severely affected children. During the past one year, Ferrando Rehabilitation (FRSD) provides services to 600 children with disabilities through inclusive education, special education, mainstreaming, and integration in schools. FRSD also provide speech therapy, physiotherapy, appropriate aids and appliances, skill training etc for persons with disabilities. The main outcomes of this project are:-
- All children receive appropriate educational programs
- All children receive a curriculum relevant to their needs
- All children participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities
- All children benefit from cooperation, collaboration among home, among school, among community.