Inclusive Education

Inclusive education means that all the students in a school, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area, become part of the school community.  They are included in the feeling of belonging among other students, teachers and also support staff.  The federal Individual with disabilities Education Act (IDEA) make it clear that schools have a duty to educate children with disabilities in general education classrooms.

The philosophy of integration or inclusion has its roots in the ideals and principles governed through equity and equality of opportunities to all without differentiation and discrimination.  However, inclusion as method and approach (for making provision of education to all children without any discrimination/ differentiation) goes a step further than the integration.  Integration merely asks for accommodating, somehow or the other, CWSN along with their normal peers in the existing normal functioning of the school and classrooms.  It seems to be an attempt thereof from outside to force or request the school setup to keep somehow CWSN in their school system.  Such placement of the CWSN in a normal class without having necessary preparation on the part of a school may seriously harm the interests and purposes of all teachers, students, school authorities and parents.  It is the inclusion therefore that needs to be preferred over a mere integration or mainstreaming of the CWSN in the normal school set-up of the school with their age peers.  There is a need to equip itself in the men-material resources, programmes and activities, curricular flexibilities and other needed support services for receiving all type of children with open arms to proved necessary education and training resulting in their all round growth and development to the maximum extent possible.