Special Educators from many schools and centres across Goa, which support children and adults with disabilities, gathered to study and learn in a certificate course on Tools for Inclusive Practice. A unique private-public partnership between the Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, Sangath India, and Keystone Institute India joined hands with teachers to work towards inclusion; states a press communique.
The three-day, creative and collaborative learning event was launched by Ayushi, IAS, Assistant Collector North Goa, and Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Elizabeth Neuville, Executive Director of Keystone Institute India, and Percy Cardozo, Inclusive Education Project Lead at Sangath, on recently at the South Goa Collectorate.
Twenty selected special educators and administrators learned and practiced powerful planning tools to envision positive inclusive lives for people with disabilities. The lively and energetic group learned person-centered, practical tools they could and will use right away. They were also challenged and supported to shift mindsets towards lives of belonging and community for people with disabilities. This world-class event will surely spark energy and action towards Goa’s upcoming Purple Fest in January 2024, a celebration of our inclusive and diverse Goa.
Improving the quality of teaching and learning, is vital for inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. This requires changes and adaptations in content, teaching methods, and promoting innovative structure of the educational system to provide learning opportunities for all children, according to Peter Floriano Borges, Chairperson of Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Goa SCPCR has been driving inclusive education policy reforms through a working group, which includes capacity development of education institutions and teacher training, summed up the press note.
