GUWAHATI, Oct 28 - The Salesian Province of Guwahati together with Bosco Reach Out (BRO), Ulubari here organised the national conference on social development on the latter�s premises on October 24 and 25, in which more than 100 stakeholders gathered to discuss inclusion of children with disabilities in education, based on a survey done on Don Bosco schools of Guwahati province, said a press release.
The overall aim of the conference was to share ideas, actual practices, research finding field experiences for understanding and improving curriculum access to meet the learning needs of children with disabilities. The purpose was also to better one�s understanding of including children with disabilities in education.
The inauguration of the conference began with Fr Jayaprakash (executive director of BRO) welcoming and felicitating the guest of honour Siddhartha Bhattacharya, Education Minister; RC Jain, retired SEBA chairman; Arman Ali, executive director at National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People and Fr Januarius Sangma, SDB provincial of the Don Bosco province of Guwahati.
In the opening session, Fr MA Joseph spoke on the history of child rights intervention, the Indian initiative for safeguarding children and two important acts, viz. the right to education and the amendments to the Juvenile Justice Act. In his talk, Fr Joseph stressed the importance of being passionate about inclusive education and not only indulging in discussions about it.
Bertha G Dkhar spoke on the achievement and the experience of making Jyoti Stoat School into an inclusive school. She said, �Every child is born to learn; and all children can learn and all children should learn together.��
Dr Aloka Guha shared stories of people with disabilities (PwDs) and focused on the need and importance of education. She mentioned that every child can and does learn, and that no child is learning impaired. She stressed that it was every child�s right to food, play, education and love.
Carmo Noronha helped the group to draft incisive school policies.
In the closing ceremony Fr Dr Benny P Basil SDB, Don Bosco province of Guwahati, welcomed James Sangma, Home Minister of Meghalaya.
A report on the conference which delivered a��Call to Action�, will be available in November, the release said.
Progress of the �Call to Action� will be evaluated in one year�s time by the members of the conference advisory committee with support from the co-organiser Light for the World, the release added.
