Education ministry calls for diversity and inclusivity in schools in new norms

Schools in India should ensure inclusivity and celebrate diversity of students with different learning needs, the education ministry has recommended in fresh guidelines, which entails making curriculum culturally and socially accommodating, encouraging teachers to develop knowledge and skills to teach all children in a class, and strengthening resource centres by equipping them with assistive devices.

The National Guidelines and Implementation Framework on Equitable and Inclusive Education have been prepared by the National Council of Educational Research and Training in line with the National Education Policy 2020 that envisages transforming India by providing high-quality “equitable and inclusive education” to ensure students with diverse learning needs are able to thrive.

The guidelines, released on Friday, have been prepared focusing on children from socioeconomically disadvantaged groups that are further categorized on the basis of their gender identities, sociocultural identities, disabilities, geographical identities and economic conditions.