KOZHIKODE: Shortage of trained teachers is coming in the way of the State government’s ambitious scheme to make public education truly inclusive. According to senior officials in the Education Department, there are not enough trained teachers to address the needs of children diagnosed with disabilities such as autism.
The Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) is entrusted with the task of training children with special needs. Sources in the SSA said there were over 1,500 autistic students in various government and aided schools in the State. There are 36 autism centres with resource persons in the State. However, many resource persons are not properly trained.
A.P. Kuttikrishnan, State Project Director, SSA, said resource persons are appointed on contract basis by the Education Department in accordance with the Human Resource Development Ministry norms. “These norms are subject to amendments, and the government may or may not continue their contract depending on the requirements. Right now, only some staff at the centres are trained,” he said.
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Mr. Kuttikrishnan pointed out that though the number of trained teachers was not sufficient to address the needs of autistic students, the SSA was not authorised to demand more staff. “Only the Union Ministry and the Education Department are authorised to amend the norms. Also, the norms on staff deployment only broadly deal with special children. They do not specify various types of disabilities,” he added.
Meanwhile, Autism Diploma Holders’ Association, an organisation of teachers trained in treating autistic children, urged the government to appoint more trained teachers at autism centres. J.T. Shaniba, secretary of the association, said in a press release that lack of trained staff had affected the children’s studies. She said autism centres should have trained staff in accordance with the number of students, and that all districts should have autism parks.