Recently it came out that DPS Dwarka, a school in Delhi, had refused to admit two kids who have special needs. One of the kids was a six-year autistic kid. The reasons given were that the school doesn’t have such infrastructure. This was against the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016.
The RPWD Act directs the authorities should make sure that the school run in their purview should have an inclusive education system, keeping in mind the needs of every student including the ones with special needs. After the DPS Dwarka incident, the Delhi High Court ordered the authorities that they can not refuse a student with a disability with an excuse od not employing a special needs teacher. The kid should be provided complete access to the school premises.
This also includes that the school should admit them without any discrimination and should we willing and if need be, provide the additional support needed by the student. However, the court has given the school a period of 24 months to hire and train special needs educators.
Special needs students can’t be refused
It is very often the case where the students are denied admission to a school by discriminating on the basis of their disability or special abilities. There are hundreds of complaints every year just in Delhi regarding the same issue. The act requires some stricter strategies to tackle this problem.
Every principal of the recognized private schools has been asked for their admission records since the RPWD Act got instated. According to the law, a minimum of 3% of seats should be reserved for special needs students at entry-level and the admissions to be conducted through a centralized draw of lots. There should be no partiality whatsoever.
With this verdict by the Delhi High Court, parents have received a huge boost. In the upcoming years, better laws should be made so that everyone can access the Right to Education.
