Inclusivity missing in schools, say parents of special needs child - Times of India
May 27, 2019, 09.54 AM IST Printed from MUMBAI: Parents of a six-year-old student with special needs who was allegedly mentally harassed by his teacher at south Mumbai's DSB International School are planning to approach the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge boards to seek implementation of guidelines on inclusion in affiliated schools. While the child has since moved to another school, the parents want to create awareness about children's rights and the need for teacher training to help such students integrate in a classroom. According to the child's parents, the boy was born with a cleft palate and, hence, required a shadow teacher and other assistance. The parents alleged the child was often targeted by a teacher and, on one occasion, also locked in a classroom. The parents complained to the school and police in February. "After taking up the issue with the school, they conducted an internal inquiry. The committee's report confirmed accounts of inappropriate behaviour by the teacher, terming it as 'definitely professional malpractice', but the communication sent to all the parents by the school said the report did not find her guilty of the serious accusation made against her," said the father. The parents have raised concerns about the teacher's continued presence. "Individuals engaged in such acts should not be allowed in the vicinity of children. It is grossly violative-.of standards of ethics, standards of education, inclusivity norms, inclusivity rights laid down by laws in India and governance protocols of the Cambridge system," said the father. School authorities refused to comment. In response to TOI's questions, principal, Howard Gee said, "It is not school policy to discuss the private matters of individual students or staff with others, and so I am unable to answer your questions." The parents, meanwhile, are in the process of sending case-related documentation to the IB and Cambridge boards. "While international boards accredit schools, they are not actively tracking adherence to their standards. They have to accept responsibility for lack of measures and visible infringements. Even the Indian education guidelines need to evolve much more in order to protect and support special needs situations," said the father. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
