The Hindu : National : Goa Government to offer aid for special schools

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 19, 2004

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National

Goa Government to offer aid for special schools

By Our Staff Reporter

PANAJI, DEC. 18. The Goa Government has announced comprehensive aid to educational institutions teaching differently-abled children.

Taking retrospective effect from June this year, the "scheme for education of children with special needs" would involve an expenditure of Rs. 2.5 crores this academic year, said the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar.

The Government had ensured almost 100 per cent coverage in terms of enrolment of children in these schools. "The Government's main aim, as far as possible, was to encourage regular schools to absorb differently-abled children, so that they come out more confident. However, it would support setting up of special schools where the severity of disability was more," Mr. Parrikar said. The special schools would get more benefits in addition to those already available to schools getting grants-in-aid from the Government.

The scheme would cover children who are mentally challenged, slow learners, learning disabled, autistic, hearing and speech impaired, orthopaedically handicapped, including polio and accident cases and the visually impaired.

Under the scheme, a child would get Rs. 500 per annum for buying books and stationery, Rs. 800 per annum for uniform, Rs. 200 per month for travel and an escort allowance of Rs. 200 per month. In addition, expenses on educational equipment up to a maximum of Rs. 5,000 once in three years would be met.

School providing education to differently-abled children would get an incentive of Rs. 300 per month (for attendance above 60 per cent) or Rs. 200 (attendance between 45 per cent and 60 per cent) per child for a maximum of 10 months in an academic year.

Special schools will get a one-time assistance for early detection and identification, purchase of aids and appliances, construction of resource room, human resource development in special education, purchase of raw material and equipment for vocational training, and production/purchase of teaching material. Also, a one-time assistance of Rs. 5 lakhs would be provided for purchase/production of learning material and other equipment.

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