Special education is a system of education where special needs children is given education in a way that addresses their individual differences, abilities and strength by the Special Educator.
In a democratic nation the development of the abilities and skills of each person is considered a human rights and it becomes the duty of the nation, society, educationists, parents and the government to provide special education for those children who have exceptional abilities and potentialities which varies from one person to another in their nature of learning and category of the PWD.
Education is a basic rights of every child and in compliance with the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) Act 2006,2016 of article 24 mentioned that the States Parties shall recognise the rights of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realising this equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation, states parties shall ensure an Inclusive system of education at all levels and lifelong learning. It has directed for the full development of human potential and sense of dignity and selfworth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity. Further, the RPWD Act emphasised on the development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential for enabling them to participate effectively in a free society.
Specially Needs Children (SNC) are those whose needs are very different from those of the majority of children in society. Those children deviate from average or normal children in their physical, mental, social, emotional, academic and learning nature. They have the capacity to learn but in a different way and since every special children learned in a different way, comprehensive assessment and early intervention must be initiated in every possibilities for striving towards achievement and independent living.
Special education programme involves the individually planned, systematically monitored, arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipments, materials and accessible settings. These interventions will generate a higher level of achievement in the academic and in the community to persons who have Intellectual Impairment, Locomotor Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, Vision Impairment, Deafblindness, Hearing Impairment or Hard of Hearing and other disabilities. As the Special Education focuses not only to PWD or CWSN but it’s a needs of any child who have difficulties with learning. It will benefit and empower themselves to be a part of the same child as the special education aims for integration or mainstreaming the CWSN into the regular system of education. This system will bring not only benefit to the children but families and societies will more integrated and more opportunities to spread awareness and barrier free environment without discrimination.
At the present scenario, comparing with the rest of the other states of India, Nagaland is one of the least state and inadequate in terms of quality, network coverage in the area of disability and rehabilitation services and programmes. The larger population of the persons with special needs (29,631 census 2011) are often neglected, humiliated and looked down upon, and the reason being lack of awareness and empathy. Hence ,it is the duty of every individual, parents, society, special educators, government,various organisations and civic as a whole to understand the human values, abilities, capacities and nature of the exceptional children to provide special education appropriate to suit their needs.
The importance of proper implementation of central schemes and projects like the IEDSS(Inclusive Education for the Disabled at Secondary Stage) meant for Children With Special Needs (CWSN) cannot be stressed enough and the need of trained special educators is dire.
