A total of 2, 414 children with special needs have been identified by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) officials during a survey across the district. According to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, all children in the age of six years to fourteen years must be educated.
The children identified in the survey would be provided with inclusive education for differently abled in this academic year, J. R. Isaac Sugirtharaj, Additional Chief Educational Officer, SSA, Tuticorin, told The Hindu here on Monday. Of the identified children, 1, 375 boys and 1,039 girls would be provided with special education to suit their needs.
Two hundred and eighty six children were identified in Tuticorin urban area under the special needs category. The 10-day survey schedule, which commenced on April 9, came to a close here on Monday.
As for the out-of-school children survey, 862 dropouts including 565 boys and 297 girls have been identified during the schedule.
Tuticorin rural has recorded the highest number of dropouts numbering hundred and eight students. While taking stock of the survey, Mr. Sugirtharaj along with a team at Inigo Nagar, a coastal hamlet in Tuticorin, advised the children to acquire knowledge through education.
The team reached the doorsteps of households and enquired about the educational background of fishermen's children. Importance of education in the competitive scenario was stressed. The initiative should not only be from the children but also from the parents to educate them.
Joined mainstream
During 2011- 12, as many as 482 dropouts out of 675, joined the mainstream curriculum of education in regular schools and the rest were imparted education under residential special training courses at five centres run by voluntary organisations.
Since some parents of these children had migrated to other places, the children were enrolled in these centres, which offer residential schooling.
