Jaipur: The court of the commissioner for specially abled persons issued orders directing the school education department and the directorate of secondary education to ensure specially abled children are admitted in all recognised schools of the state, including private schools, by publishing advertisements in newspapers. It also directed the departments to ensure special teachers are recruited by these schools by publishing advertisements.
Commissioner for specially abled, Uma Shanker Sharma, in his order, stated, “I have come across several advertisements in newspapers and other media sources regarding schools in Rajasthan. These advertisements mention various facilities such as playgrounds, latest technologies and other amenities. However, none of these advertisements, pamphlets etc. contain information about adherence to norms related to specially abled students.”
Sharma added that the court also came across and dealt with such cases where special children were denied admission due to their disabilities. “Therefore, being apprised and acquainted with the fact of violation of the provisions of the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and in the interest of justice, I am satisfied and deem it appropriate to take Suo Motu action in the matter by invoking the powers available to me under Section 80 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016 and pass the following order.”
“The education department shall ensure that the information regarding the last three years’ (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) admissions under the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to the students relating to the specially abled children be collected from recognised schools in Rajasthan and submitted before this court. It shall also ensure that the schools mention admissions in tune with the norms related to special children in their advertisements,” the order stated.
Sharma mentioned that there were no special teachers recruited in the schools as per provisions of Section 16, 17 of the RPwD Act, 2016. “The education department shall ensure that the information of this order is sent to all the private schools in Rajasthan with guidance that they are required to recruit special/specially trained teachers for the benefits of specially-abled students.”
“The respondent shall ensure that at least one such teacher is recruited in the schools and more than one by maintaining the students-teacher ratio in case the number of students is more,” he ordered.
Commissioner for specially abled, Uma Shanker Sharma, in his order, stated, “I have come across several advertisements in newspapers and other media sources regarding schools in Rajasthan. These advertisements mention various facilities such as playgrounds, latest technologies and other amenities. However, none of these advertisements, pamphlets etc. contain information about adherence to norms related to specially abled students.”
Sharma added that the court also came across and dealt with such cases where special children were denied admission due to their disabilities. “Therefore, being apprised and acquainted with the fact of violation of the provisions of the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, and in the interest of justice, I am satisfied and deem it appropriate to take Suo Motu action in the matter by invoking the powers available to me under Section 80 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016 and pass the following order.”
“The education department shall ensure that the information regarding the last three years’ (2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22) admissions under the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to the students relating to the specially abled children be collected from recognised schools in Rajasthan and submitted before this court. It shall also ensure that the schools mention admissions in tune with the norms related to special children in their advertisements,” the order stated.
Sharma mentioned that there were no special teachers recruited in the schools as per provisions of Section 16, 17 of the RPwD Act, 2016. “The education department shall ensure that the information of this order is sent to all the private schools in Rajasthan with guidance that they are required to recruit special/specially trained teachers for the benefits of specially-abled students.”
“The respondent shall ensure that at least one such teacher is recruited in the schools and more than one by maintaining the students-teacher ratio in case the number of students is more,” he ordered.
