Tanya Gupta

Disability Discrimination in the Indian Education System and Models To Address This Disparity

Started May 15, 2024

Abstract or project description

This paper addresses the issue of inaccessible education for children with disabilities in India, where many face barriers to achieving academic success. Approximately one in twelve households in India has a family member with a disability, yet these children are five times more likely to be out of school than their peers (O’Keefe, 2009), with only 9% completing secondary education (Sarkar, 2020). The paper examines the historical evolution of disability education in India, from pre-colonial views to the impact of British colonial policies and the cultural perception of people with disabilities. It also discusses key legislation aimed at improving education for disabled individuals and their faults, including the Rehabilitation Council of India Act (1992), the Persons with Disabilities Act (1995), the National Policy For Persons with Disability (2006), The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (2009), The Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act (2016), and lastly the Constitution of India. The paper highlights current programs like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Inclusive Education for Disabled Secondary Stage, which attempt to address these disparities. Lastly, it proposes new policies to promote educational equity and enhance access for disabled children, aiming to raise awareness and foster meaningful change in the Indian education system.