Q. The National Policy on Education (1986) States.
— Wherever possible, mildly and moderately handicapped children should be educated along with non-handicapped children in general schools.
— Severely handicapped children who have completed prerequisite learning in special schools should be encouraged to come back to general schools. Education of handicapped children in general schools requires provision of resource room, resource teacher, aids, equipment and incentives.
(xi) Education of the Disadvantaged Group: It is necessary to pay special attention to the education of SC and ST children. Along with expansion of educational programme measures should be taken for the social and economic development of disadvantaged communities. Hostel facilities, provision of scholarships, special coaching classes, and reservation of seats in schools, colleges, and universities, professional and technical institutions preparation of bilingual text books and appointment of tribal teachers are some of the measures which are required for their education.
(xii) Free Education and Scholarships: All education should be tuition fee. To provide free and universal primary education for the age-group 6-14 is a constitutional obligation. Most of the States have already abolished tuition fees at the primary stage. In Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal lower secondary education has been made tuition free. The provision of free education should be extended to Secondary and University levels for needy and deserving students. Free student ship, free text books and writing materials should be made available to poor and meritorious students to ensure equality to educational opportunities for them. The programme of scholarships in higher education is extremely important.
The existing programme should further be developed on the following lines:.
— Number and amount of scholarships and other students’ aid should be increased.
— Simplification of procedure and reducing the delay for awarding scholarships.
— Improving the methods of selection.
— Introducing large number of loan-scholarships.
— Introducing additional number of scholarships for girls.
(xiii) Correspondence Education: Correspondence courses can go a long in equalizing educational opportunities. They can make education cheaper and will be convenient for those who cannot attend regular courses.
Provisions Made in National Policy of Education (1986) .
(i) The National Policy of Education (1986) calls for providing equality of educational opportunities to all, not only in terms of access but also in the conditions for success.
(ii) Special attention will be given to participation of women in general, vocational, technical and professional education.
(iii) Special emphasis will be given on the education of SC and ST children at all stages and all levels, in all areas and dimensions.
(iv) For education of SC and ST children incentives should be given to them at all stages of education.
(v) Adequate facilities should be provided in unserved — rural, hilly, remote and inaccessible areas.
(vi) Minority communities should be allowed to set up and administer their own educational institutions.
(vii) Education of handicapped children should receive due attention. Wherever feasible, the education of children with motor handicaps and other mild handicaps will be common with that of others. Special schools with hostel facilities should be provided at district headquarters for the severely handicapped children. The objective should be to integrate the physically and mentally handicapped with the general community as equal partners, to prepare them for normal growth and to enable them to face life with courage and confidence.
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