The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, organized a nationwide screening of a 30-minute Sensitization and Orientation Module on Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) through the PRASHAST Portal across schools in India. The initiative aims to promote a whole-school approach to inclusion, ensuring that teachers, special educators, and non-teaching staff understand the needs of CwSN and contribute to creating a safe, accessible, and supportive school environment.
The module uses practical examples and interactive activities to help school personnel adopt appropriate and respectful practices. It is available in 12 Indian languages and is intended for heads of schools, teachers, special educators, and non-teaching staff, including aayahs, drivers, clerical staff, receptionists, deans, and wardens. DoSEL has been conducting continuous sensitization of general teachers on Inclusive Education through PRASHAST for the past three months, with more than 72 lakh teachers already sensitized through the dedicated module.
PRASHAST is a school-based digital tool for identifying children with probable disability conditions covered under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Its two-part checklist enables teachers to screen students based on observable indicators, while special educators validate cases and facilitate referrals for medical assessment where required. More than 60,000 schools participated in the nationwide screening, with participation expected to increase further during the month.
The initiative reinforces that inclusive education is a shared responsibility, noting that every interaction a child has at school—from the classroom and office to transport and other common spaces—contributes to their experience of inclusion. This effort is part of the Ministry's continued work to strengthen equitable, accessible, and inclusive education, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the RPwD Act 2016. The module can be accessed through the PRASHAST Portal at https://prashast.education.gov.in/.
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