The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, organised the nationwide screening of a 30-minute Sensitization and Orientation Module on Inclusive Education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) through the PRASHAST Portal in schools across the country.
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 sensitisation of general teachers on Inclusive Education through PRASHAST for the past three months. More than 72 lakh teachers have already been sensitised 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, wherever required.
More than 60,000 schools participated in nationwide screening, with participation expected to increase further during the month.
The initiative reinforces that inclusive education is a shared responsibility. Every interaction a child has at school, from the classroom and office to transport and other common spaces, contributes to their experience of inclusion.
The initiative is part of the Ministry’s continued efforts 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: https://prashast.education.gov.in/