NEW DELHI — The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to conduct a mandatory 30-minute sensitisation session for teaching and non-teaching staff on October 7, 2026. The directive, issued to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, focuses on creating an inclusive learning environment for children with special needs (CWSN).
The board has released a specific video module titled “Sensitisation on Inclusive Education” for this purpose. Schools are required to screen this module during a dedicated staff meeting or assembly on the specified date. The initiative aims to equip educators with the foundational knowledge necessary to identify, support, and integrate students with diverse learning abilities into the mainstream classroom effectively.
Implementation Guidelines
According to the circular, the session is not optional. School principals are tasked with ensuring that 100% of the staff, including administrative and support personnel, attend the screening. The board has emphasized that inclusive education is a statutory obligation under the RPwD Act, which mandates reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities in educational institutions.
The 30-minute module covers key aspects of disability awareness, including the types of disabilities, common misconceptions, and practical strategies for classroom management. It highlights the importance of empathy, patience, and individualized attention. The CBSE has instructed schools to maintain attendance registers for the session as proof of compliance. These records may be subject to verification during the annual inspection or internal audit processes.
Education officials noted that this move is part of a broader strategy to transform the school system into a more accessible and equitable space. The NEP 2020 explicitly calls for the removal of barriers to learning and the promotion of universal access. By mandating this sensitisation, the CBSE seeks to shift the institutional culture from one of exclusion to one of inclusion, ensuring that no child is left behind due to physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments.
Context and Legal Framework
The directive aligns with the recommendations of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. The RPwD Act, 2016, replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, and expanded the definition of disability to include 21 conditions. It imposes a legal duty on educational institutions to provide necessary support services, such as special educators, assistive devices, and accessible infrastructure.
पूर्व ऑडिट, नियंत्रक एवं ऑडिटर जनरल (CAG) तथा राज्य शिक्षा बोर्डों द्वारा समावेशी शिक्षा नीतियों के कार्यान्वयन में अंतरालों को उजागर किया गया है। कई विद्यालयों में प्रशिक्षित विशेष शिक्षकों और CWSN (विशेष आवश्यकताओं वाले छात्रों) के लिए पर्याप्त संसाधनों की कमी पाई गई। CBSE का नया मॉड्यूल इन अंतरालों को जमीनी स्तर पर संबोधित करने के लिए तैयार किया गया है, जिसमें सभी कर्मचारियों के बीच जागरूकता बढ़ाने पर बल दिया गया है, न कि केवल विशेष शिक्षकों पर।
विद्यालयों को अपने मौजूदा बुनियादी ढांचे और शिक्षण सामग्री की समीक्षा करने की भी सलाह दी गई है ताकि वे सुलभ हों। इसमें रैंप, सुलभ शौचालय और श्रवण या दृष्टि बाधित छात्रों के लिए ऑडियो-वीडियो सहायता की जाँच शामिल है। बोर्ड ने विद्यालयों को स्थानीय विशेष शिक्षा केंद्रों और गैर‑सरकारी संगठनों (NGO) के साथ सहयोग करने के लिए प्रोत्साहित किया है ताकि आवश्यकतानुसार अतिरिक्त सहायता प्रदान की जा सके।