Inclusive Education For Disabled At Secondary Stage (IEDSS) Scheme:
The Karnataka government recently suspended five officers for dereliction of duty in the implementation of the Inclusive Education for Disabled at Secondary Stage (IEDSS) scheme.
- IEDSS has been launched from the year 2009-10. This Scheme replaces the earlier scheme of Integrated Education for Disabled Children (IEDC).
- The aim of this scheme is to enable all students with disabilities to pursue four years of secondary education in an inclusive and enabling environment, after completing eight years of elementary schooling.
- It provides assistance for the inclusive education of disabled children in classes IX-XII.
- The scheme covers all children studying at the secondary stage in Government, local body and Government-aided schools, with one or more disabilities as defined under the Persons with Disabilities Act (1995) and the National Trust Act (1999) in the class IX to XII, namely blindness, low vision, leprosy cured, hearing impairment, locomotory disabilities, mental retardation, mental illness, autism, and cerebral palsy, and may eventually cover speech impairment, learning disabilities, etc.
- Girls with the disabilities receive special focus to help them gain access to secondary schools, as also to information and guidance for developing their potential.
- Setting up of Model inclusive schools in every State is envisaged under the scheme.
- The School Education Department of the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations are the implementing agencies.
- They may involve NGOs having experience in the field of education of the disabled in the implementation of the scheme.
