AP’s inclusive edu model lauded at national level

Vijayawada: Samagra Shiksha State Project Director B Srinivasa Rao on Thursday highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s inclusive education initiatives at the Inclusive Education Summit held in New Delhi.

National level experts showed keen interest in innovative programmes such as Project DRISHTI and Autism Support Centres.

At the summit, Andhra Pradesh made a strong impression by showcasing its comprehensive and innovative reforms for Children with Special Needs (CWSN). The initiatives implemented by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under Samagra Shiksha were presented on this national platform by Rao. Addressing the summit, he explained that the Government of Andhra Pradesh is not limiting itself merely to providing infrastructure, but is actively building a holistic inclusive education ecosystem. He elaborated on several key initiatives, including Project DRISHTI—a digital inclusive education management system designed for children with special needs to ensure transparent and efficient service delivery; establishment of Autism Support Centres across the state under PM SHRI Schools; distribution of digital assistive devices; development of school infrastructure aligned with international standards; conduct of scribe free examinations; inclusive sports activities and adventure based training programmes aimed at boosting students confidence and independence.

He said inclusive education does not mean changing children to fit the system; it means changing systems to meet the needs of every child.

"The outcomes achieved by the State and its technology driven educational practices received high praise from education experts and eminent personalities from across the country," he stated.

Delegates at the summit appreciated Andhra Pradesh’s strong focus on the rights, dignity and independence of children with special needs. Experts opined that the inclusive education model demonstrated by Andhra Pradesh can serve as a guiding framework for other States.