Roundtable on Mainstreaming Inclusion of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs), 18 December 2023
In partnership with the ChangeInkk Foundation, Delhi, India, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), a regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning, hosted a Roundtable on Mainstreaming the Inclusion of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) on 18 December 2023 in Delhi, India. SLD refers to a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the fundamental psychological processes related to language comprehension and usage, be it spoken or written. It commonly results in such learners facing persistent challenges in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. CEMCA and the ChangeInkk Foundation are creating a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) tailored for teacher education on SLD.
The workshop sought insights from a diverse group of participants, including special educators, regular teachers, parents, and students with SLD to shape the content of this MOOC. The aim is to raise awareness about this invisible disability and empower educators to understand the pedagogical requirements of these students, adapting their teaching methodologies accordingly. Since the workshop engaged a mixed cohort of participants, their diverse perspectives and real-life experiences enriched the discussions around developing a comprehensive MOOC for addressing the capacity building deficit in this area.
Dr B. Shadrach, Director of CEMCA, contextualised the workshop within the framework of NEP 2020 (National Education Policy 2020) regarding the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). He referred to documents, such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, PRASHAST by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) that talk about various provisions for PwDs and learners with SLD to introduce equity and inclusivity in the Indian education system. He highlighted the challenges posed by the shortage of specialised educators for them, underscoring the significance of the ongoing MOOC development in bridging this gap.
Additionally, Ms. Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Founder and Trustee of the ChangeInkk Foundation, shared the organisation's founding story and its mission to mainstream children with SLD. Through her engaging presentation, she elaborated on the concept of SLD and societal perspective towards it. Welcoming the participants, Dr Pema Samdup, Senior Adviser for Open, Distance, and eLearning at CEMCA, linked the agenda of inclusive education with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and the reforms suggested in NEP 2020 for School Education. Dr Bharti Kaushik, Associate Professor at the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) in NCERT, Delhi, India, shed light on their initiatives for students with various disabilities, including SLD.
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In partnership with the ChangeInkk Foundation, Delhi, India, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), a regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning, hosted a Roundtable on Mainstreaming the Inclusion of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) on 18 December 2023 in Delhi, India. SLD refers to a neurodevelopmental disorder that results in learners facing challenges in areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. CEMCA and the ChangeInkk Foundation are creating a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) tailored for teacher education on SLD. The workshop sought insights from a diverse group of participants, including special educators, regular teachers, parents, and students with SLD to shape the content of this MOOC through their diverse perspectives and real-life experiences.
Dr B. Shadrach, Director of CEMCA, contextualised the workshop within the framework of NEP 2020 (National Education Policy 2020) regarding the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). He highlighted the challenges posed by the shortage of specialised educators for them, underscoring the significance of the ongoing MOOC development in bridging this gap. Additionally, Ms. Noopur Jhunjhunwala, Founder and Trustee of the ChangeInkk Foundation, through her engaging presentation, elaborated on the concept of SLD and societal perspective towards it. In the context of the workshop, Dr Pema Samdup, Senior Adviser for Open, Distance, and eLearning at CEMCA, linked the agenda of inclusive education with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and the reforms suggested in NEP 2020 for School Education. Dr Bharti Kaushik, Associate Professor at the Central Institute of Educational Technology (CIET) in National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Delhi, India, shed light on their initiatives for students with various disabilities, including SLD.
