PANJIM: In an attempt to ensure better care of students with special needs, the Goa Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities has urged special educators to initiate visits to students’ homes to boost their overall performance. Similarly, parents have been asked to involve themselves in their child’s school activities.
“For the students, teachers are their God. The special educators should visit homes of their students. This will not only make them happy but the move will also help the teachers know the atmosphere students are living in, their neighbourhood and build a rapport with their parents,” Commissioner for Disabilities Anuradha Joshi said on Saturday.
She also pointed out to a lack of coordination between parents and educators urging the former to take part in school programmes. “(Majority) parents are not involved in the activity of special children. Whatever they are taught in the schools should be practiced at home. Parents should join the school to motivate the special children for their general prosperity,” she stated.
Her suggestions came at the convention of special educators, who joined hands to form ‘Special Educators Association of Goa’ that would address problems and grievances of teachers, and sensitize education of children with special needs.
Avelino D’Sa of Disability Rights Association of Goa has called for special facilities in regular schools and to ensure that they join government service to post in higher ranks.”We need to promote inclusive education. Those students with special needs, having minor disability can shift to regular schools. There are no facilities in regular schools for such students because there has not been any demand so far. We need special students to join elite careers and become government officers,” he stated.
