NCERT app to help identify special kids, says minister

Minister of State in the Education Ministry Jayant Chaudhary on Wednesday informed Parliament that the Department of School Education and Literacy through the NCERT had developed a screening tool — Prashast app — for early identification of children with special needs, including those with neurological disorders. The app is being used by teachers and special educators in schools.

Responding to BJP MP Sikander Kumar’s question if the government had launched any project to support children with neurological disorders in getting a good education, Chaudhary said, “The shortlisted children, using the screening tool, are then sent for assessment for identification and certification of the disability.”

In addition, the institutes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities such as the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation, the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities are providing a range of services. “These include early intervention, special education, comprehensive assessments, tele-rehabilitation, capacity building through diploma programmes and access to multidisciplinary mental health and therapeutic services,” the minister said.

The department also extends support for establishing block resource centres for children with special needs, where special educators prepare individualised education plans for children with multiple disabilities, including neurological disorders.

“These centres also provide therapeutic services to enhance cognitive development. Furthermore, they conduct orientation and counselling sessions for parents of children with special needs on therapeutic care and cognitive training. Under Samagra Shiksha, an assistance is also provided for capacity-building programmes for both general teachers and special educators,” Chaudhary said.

India