State govt mandates ‘Disha’ curriculum for special schools from next academic year

Although the curriculum existed for a few years, for the first time, Maharashtra’s Persons with Disabilities Welfare department has formally issued guidelines on its effective implementation to ensure uniformity and quality. In a Government Resolution (GR) issued in this regard on Friday, the government states that schools following it will be certified as ‘Disha-implementing schools’, whereas those failing to implement it may face actions such as suspension of grants or cancellation of the no-objection certificate (NOC) from the state required for the institute’s recognition.

An assessment checklist based on the IEP and Individualised Therapy Program (ITP) is a key component of this curriculum, which has to be identified soon after admission of a child. This multisensory curriculum utilises visual, auditory, kinaesthetic and tactile (VAKT) methods of engaging in learning for goals fixed for each child under the IEP – which can be academic as well as daily-life-skill goals, as per individual needs. Teachers and school principals will be given required training for effective implementation of the curriculum. Apart from periodic assessment (twice per academic year), schools will have to upload progress reports on the Disha portal. Apart from building uniformity in education imparted at special schools, this curriculum integrates academics with functional and vocational training to develop cognitive, self-help and social skills for children with ID with an aim to support them in leading an independent life.

The curriculum is developed by Mumbai-based Jai Vakeel Foundation, which has over 80 years of experience in supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. Following certification from the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID)—a national body dedicated to provide quality service to persons with ID, the state government partnered with Jai Vakeel Foundation to promote the uniform curriculum among special-schools catering to children with ID. According to the government, after witnessing the value in this uniform curriculum, it has now decided to make it mandatory.

Stating that Maharashtra has become the first state to make the uniform curriculum mandatory in special schools catering to children with ID, Tukaram Mundhe, Secretary for Persons with Disability Welfare department, said, “The objective is to achieve measurable, outcome-oriented results. That is possible only when there is transparency and clearly defined accountability. While mandating of the curriculum ensures uniformity, through the portal, we are building a transparent system that does not leave implementation to the discretion of individual schools. The curriculum and its implementation will be a collaboration of all stakeholders—teachers, parents, students, the government and the wider community.”

Stating that this is a great step forward, CEO of Jai Vakeel Foundation Archana Chandra,, said, “With this step the Government has endorsed the NIEPID Disha Curticulum as a sustainable solution for the much needed uniiformity in assessing and working with children with intellectual disability

She explained, “This curriculum has been built for the entire spectrum of intellectual disability and addresses the unique needs to the children- be it activities of daily living or functional academics, with the larger aim of Inclusion of the children in our society.”

Today, it is already being used by over 400 schools, 2700 special educators have been trained and over 20,000 students are benefitting from using it.