Sharp decline in special needs children enrolling in Kerala schools, Centre urges state to act
The Union Ministry of School Education has raised concern about the 'significant decline' in the number of children with special needs enrolling in schools in Kerala, especially at the secondary level, and has directed the state government to take action.
'There is a significant decline in the percentage share of CwSN (children with special needs) in secondary grades and only 39% of teachers have been trained in inclusive education,' the ministry said in a review of the Samagra Shiksha, or inclusive education, programme in Kerala for the last academic year. A report on the review was released on May 2.
According to the report, children with special needs make up just 2% of the total student enrolment in schools in the state.
The report advised the state to use the PRASHAST app — an application developed by NCERT for schools to screen students for potential disabilities — to identify children with special needs providing assistance accordingly.
On the infrastructure front, the report pointed out several gaps, which the state was told to rectify. It said that out of 15,864 schools, 13,029 (82%) are equipped with ramps, but only 4,504 (29%) have CwSN-friendly boys toilets, and 4,102 (26%) have CwSN-friendly girls toilets.
The report said, 'There are six schools without provision of electricity, nine without drinking water, 21 without girls toilets, 41 without boys toilets.' The state was told to ensure I00% coverage of these facilities in all government schools in 2025-26.
Out of the total 1,310 secondary and senior secondary schools, 29 do not have ICT lags and 70 don't have smart classrooms. Besides, out of 851 senior secondary schools, 37 don't have Physics labs, 31 don't have Chemistry labs, and 67 don't have Biology labs.
The Union ministry also raised concern about the reduction in the total number of enrolments in government and aided schools, from 46.37,701 in 2022-23 to 45,50.822 in 2023-24.
The Kerala governemnt has said the 'state has done data cleansing exercises using Aadhaar verification. Apart from this, the state is also making an automated permanent academic account registry in order to validate enrollment details'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Gazette
5 hours ago
- India Gazette
Union Minister Jitendra Singh reiterates India's commitment to a resilient blue economy
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Union Minister of Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh, addressing the Monaco Marine Conference on Sunday, reiterated India's commitment to a resilient Blue Economy and pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about it twice in his two consecutive Independence Day addresses. In a symbolic show of global cooperation for ocean sustainability commemorating the 'World Ocean Day' today, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Norway's Minister of International Development, Asmund Grover Aukrust, jointly hosted a high-level event on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) aboard the historic Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl at the Port of Hercule in Monaco, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The event was attended by dignitaries, including Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, making it a significant diplomatic engagement spotlighting blue economy collaboration. Speaking at the inaugural session, Jitendra Singh highlighted India's strides in adopting Marine Spatial Planning as a key tool for sustainable ocean governance. 'We believe MSP offers a science-based framework for optimising ocean resources, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring coastal livelihoods,' he said, reiterating India's commitment to a resilient blue economy backed by technology and inclusive decision-making. The India-Norway MSP collaboration, under the Indo-Norwegian Integrated Ocean and Research Initiative, has already yielded visible outcomes. Notably, pilot projects in Puducherry and Lakshadweep have demonstrated the potential of MSP to tackle coastal erosion, manage biodiversity, and engage multiple stakeholders across sectors like fisheries, tourism, and conservation. One of India's most notable achievements, Dr Jitendra Singh said, is the launch of the SAHAV portal - a GIS-based decision support system now recognised as a Digital Public Good, to mark the international ocean day. 'This tool empowers policymakers, researchers, and communities with real-time spatial data, enabling smarter planning and stronger marine resilience,' he noted. The Minister Jitendra Singh added that India aims to scale Marine Spatial Planning across its coastline, reinforcing the nation's global leadership in sustainable ocean management. 'Our science-driven, data-informed approach underscores India's vision for ocean governance that benefits both people and the planet,' he said. The presence of top-level Norwegian leadership underscored the importance both nations place on sustainable maritime cooperation. Bilateral meetings and joint initiatives like this are expected to pave the way for greater global coordination on marine issues, especially as climate change and economic pressures intensify the need for balanced ocean use. 'As India and Norway continue to chart a shared course toward a sustainable maritime future, today's event aboard Statsraad Lehmkuhl served as a fitting reminder: the health of our oceans depends not just on innovation, but on international collaboration' concluded Dr Jitendra Singh. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business Standard
The four key startups leading the race to build India's first LLM
With the government's support, work begins on foundational models for AI services Aashish Aryan Avik Das New Delhi/Bengaluru Listen to This Article India will be ready with its first indigenously developed artificial intelligence large language model (LLM) in six to eight months, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, on January 30 this year. The move was seen as India's response to DeepSeek, an open-source LLM developed in China, reportedly at a fraction of the cost it took to create other models globally. (LLMs are AI programmes trained on vast amounts of text data to understand, generate, and process human language.) But Indian government officials say they are not merely reacting to events elsewhere. A plan to develop indigenous
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Jitendra Singh leaves for France to lead high-level Indian delegation at International Meet on Oceans
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Minister of Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh left for France on Saturday to lead a high-level Indian delegation at the International Meet on Oceans. Scheduled to be held at the French picturesque coastal city of Nice, the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) will take place from June 8 to 13. The high-level international gathering will bring together leaders, scientists, policymakers, and civil society actors from across the globe to discuss sustainable ocean governance and concrete actions for the health of the world's oceans, an official release said. Over the next four days, Jitendra Singh will participate in bilateral meetings with Ministers from key partner countries, deliver India's national statement at the UNOC plenary and engage in crucial policy dialogues on ocean action. In addition to the formal sessions of the Conference, Jitendra Singh is slated to hold bilateral meetings with representatives from France, Germany, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Chile, among others. These meetings are expected to strengthen India's cooperation with key global players on issues ranging from marine pollution to ocean science and financing for blue economy initiatives. The third edition of the UN Ocean Conference -- co-hosted by France and Costa Rica -- will focus on key themes such as restoring marine ecosystems, reducing marine pollution, promoting ocean-based scientific cooperation, and mobilizing resources for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 14. The conference will feature 'Ocean Action Panels' involving governments, UN bodies, researchers, industry leaders, and NGOs to forge partnerships and propose practical, scalable solutions. India has actively contributed to the build-up to UNOC3. In the lead-up to the conference, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) organised two Blue Talks in collaboration with the Embassies of France and Costa Rica in New Delhi. These sessions brought together scientists, officials, and stakeholders from multiple sectors to share best practices and develop concrete recommendations on marine governance and conservation. During the general debate at UNOC3, Jitendra Singh will articulate India's stance on ocean policy, highlighting the country's initiatives in marine research, coastal resilience, and regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. India has also sought speaking slots in critical thematic panels, including those on marine pollution and scientific cooperation. Jitendra Singh's presence at the global forum reinforces India's commitment to multilateral cooperation for sustainable ocean use and signals New Delhi's proactive approach in contributing to global ocean policy frameworks. With oceans playing a central role in climate regulation, food security, and economic development, India's engagement at UNOC3 aims to position the country as a constructive and solutions-oriented partner in global marine governance. (ANI)
