Ministry of Education Launches Nationwide Awareness Campaign via 'PRASHAST' Portal to Promote Inclusive Education

The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) under the Ministry of Education has conducted a nationwide screening of a 30-minute awareness and orientation module on inclusive education for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) through the 'PRASHAST' portal across schools in the country. The primary objective of this initiative is to promote a holistic approach toward inclusivity in schools, ensuring that teachers, special educators, and non-teaching staff can better understand the needs of these children and create a safe, accessible, and supportive environment for them.

This awareness module has been made available in 12 Indian languages. It has been specifically designed for school heads, teachers, and special educators, as well as non-teaching staff such as clerical staff, drivers, ayahs, receptionists, deans, and wardens. The module includes practical examples and participatory activities to ensure that the entire school staff adopts respectful behavior and appropriate working methodologies.

For the past three months, the department has been continuously sensitizing general teachers through the 'PRASHAST' portal. As a result, more than 7.2 million teachers have been sensitized through this dedicated module. Over 60,000 schools have participated in the nationwide screening process so far, and this number is expected to increase during the current month.

It is noteworthy that 'PRASHAST' is a school-based digital tool used to identify children with potential disability conditions falling under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. Through a two-part checklist available on the portal, teachers can screen students, after which special educators verify these cases and provide referrals for medical examination as necessary.

This entire initiative is in alignment with the provisions of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the RPwD Act, 2016. The goal is to strengthen equitable and accessible education, acknowledging that every interaction a child has at school—whether in the classroom, the office, or during transport—impacts their experience of inclusivity.