'Sensitively' challenged schools oppose physically challenged students 2 Panjim Schools refuse to admit disabled students
Gomantak Times Page 1 dated 26th January, 2006 by Preetu Nair and Ayesha Barretto -------------------------------------------------------------------- Had Radcliffe College, America refused admission to Helen Keller, a deaf and blind person for higher learning in 1990 then maybe Helen would have never discovered the secret of the stars or sailed on chartered land. Neither could she have opened a new doorway which altered peoples perception of the disabled and remapped the boundaries of sight and sense. Radcliffe College gave Helen the opportunity which some schools in Goa are denying to its differently abled students. Despite rules and regulations which clearly states that no disabled student should be denied admission to school because of their disability it appears that some temples of education in the state dont have tolerance or acceptability towards the differently abled kids. Here are examples of how two of the better known schools have displayed sever lack of sensitivity towards physically challenged students. "We dont admit handicapped students. For handicapped students there are schools like Disha" emphasized Suhas Sardessai, Administrator Mustifund. "There is no interview no test but the child is checked to see if he or she is normal, whether they are able to walk or talk properly" said Sr. Florence Fernandes, principal, Mary Immaculate. Strangely enough these statements come at a time when the state government is striving hard to achieve universalisation of elementary education and ensure near 100 per cent enrolment of children by focusing on children with special needs. To encourage schools to admit such students the state government has also formulated a "Scheme to Educate Children with Special needs". Moreover, denying admission to a differently abled child is in direct violation of Section 39 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. Section 39 clearly states that all government educational institutions and other educational institutions receiving aid from the government shall reserve not less than three percent seats for persons with disabilities. Besides the Goa School Education Act 1984 and the Goa School Education Rules 1986 clearly states that admissions have to be given in schools without any distinction. According to a senior official of the education department "these guidelines have to be followed not only by the aided schools but also the non-aided schools because while giving recognition to the private schools, the Directorate of Education (DoE) clearly states that recognition of an unaided school is valid, subject to the compliance of all the provisions stipulated in the Goa School Education Act, 1984 and the Goa School Education Rules, 1986 and instructions issued by DoE or government from time to time". "Being born with a disability is not our fault so why should we be punished for the same. Schools need to be sensitive to the needs of the disabled and give us a helping hand to overcome our disability. This attitude of school authorities is unacceptable and wrong" said Avelino de Sa of the Disability Rights Association of Goa. DISABILITY RIGHTS ASSOCIATION OF GOA C/o Star Investments Opp. Head Post Office Panjim, Goa - 403 001. Telefax: 0832 - 2427160 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.disabilitygoa.com "Making way for the differently abled in Goa"