Educating the Educators

Special Education Teachers to be given new tools to help the disabled; special educators to work in tandem with parents to promote learning at home and help students develop holistically

The International Commission of Education for the Twenty-First Century envisages education as “one of the principal means available to foster a deeper and more harmonious form of human development and thereby reduce poverty, exclusion, ignorance, oppression and war".

According to it the principal functions of education is ‘fitting humanity to take control of its own development.” The Commission proposes to attain the goal through the Four Pillars of Education: “learning to know, do, be and live together”. The latent resources and talent of every individual should be brought to surface level and energies have to be properly channelized. This has to be applicable to the children with disabilities too. Working on this agenda it is been regarded that the special education should be given due preference and importance in times to come.

Teacher and Student’s Life

A teacher can be an agent of change and can bring both evolutionary as well as revolutionary change in a student’s life. For this to happen the education programmes meant to train teachers have to be developed according to the current as well as the emerging needs of the Indian society. Adequate development of role perception is required so that social, political, economic challenges can be met appropriately and there is proper adaptation to rapid scientific and scientific changes.  Teachers play a significant role in preparing young people and moulding their personalities to face the future with confidence.

Special educators are the teachers who work with the students facing some of the physical and/or mental challenges. These teachers provide education through the use of remedial instruction, instructional materials, learning-teaching aids and equipment to meet educational needs of children with specific learning disabilities. Remedial instruction tries to improve a skill or ability in a student. Its techniques may include providing more practice and explanation, repeating information, and devoting more time to tapping the student’s hidden talents.

Teacher Training Courses

The task of development and standardization of teacher training courses is entrusted to the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). It works under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. These courses relate to disability rehabilitation and special education. The courses aim at updating and upgrading the knowledge and expertise of the professionals who are involved in the areas of disability. There are almost 37 diploma courses in the field of special education in India some of the institutes offer courses like B.Ed and M.Ed as well. All these courses are regulated and governed by the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), a legislative body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The Rehabilitation Professional Courses include Certificate / Diploma / Degree / Master in Special Education for developing human resource in the field of mental retardation, visual impairment, speech & hearing, locomotors, cerebral palsy, etc.

Objectives of the Courses

The objective of these courses is to train the special educators in the area of understanding the specific needs of disabled students. Special education teachers are trained to use techniques to promote learning. They have to choose from among teaching methods which may include individualized instruction, problem-solving assignments, and small group work. Special education teachers are taught to bring about an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each special education student. Teachers and parents sometimes work together to bring about the child's progress and some techniques are suggested to promote learning at home.

These educators work on the students' behavioural, social, and academic development and help the students to develop emotionally. The students are made to feel comfortable in social situations. Special education teachers are trained to communicate and work together with parents, social workers, school psychologists, speech therapists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers. The courses aim at ensuring quality services to the people with disabilities.

RCI also keeps on modifying and revising the syllabi and new training programmes are started from to time. The Council has so for standardized 80 Long Term/ Short Term Training Courses, which include 11 courses, developed recently. The courses are available both through distance education mode and regular mode.

It is now expected that the special education would continue to be at par with other regular and vocational courses keeping up with the goals of National Policy of Education.