3,600 teachers to be recruited for children with special needs

For the first time, the Punjab Government will recruit 3,600 special education teachers for children with special needs (CWSN) in government schools across the state.

At presently, the state has only 386 special educators engaged on contractual basis since 2005. There are 47,979 CWSN students in government and government-aided schools.

In Ludhiana district alone, there are just 30 special educators for 7,330 special students. There are 3,917 posts of special educators in the Education Department.

Department officials said under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), there should be at least one special education teacher for every 10 students with disabilities at primary level (classes I to V) and for every 15 such students of classes VI to VIII.

In February, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had intervened after receiving a complaint from Berozgaar Vishesh Sikhya Adhyaapak Union president Harish Dutt.

The commission wrote to the Punjab’s Director General of School Education, urging for an inquiry. The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights also stepped in, directing the Elementary Education Department to investigate the matter.

In March, the Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to notify the sanctioned posts of teachers for special children and initiate the selection process by March 28. Delayed by over three months, the Punjab Finance Department has given approval to recruit teachers in phased manner.

In the first year, 1,100 teachers would be recruited, followed by 1,200 in second year and 1,300 teachers in the third year. The 386 special educators working on contract would also be regularised.

Punjab