Special educators from many schools and centres which support children and adults with disabilities across Goa gathered to study and learn in a certificate course called Tools for Inclusive Practice.
This is a unique private-public partnership between the Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, Sangath India, Keystone Institute India and teachers to work towards inclusion.
The three-day creative and collaborative learning event was launched by Ayushi, IAS Assistant Collector, North Goa; 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 September 6, 2023, at the South Goa Collectorate.
Twenty selected special educators and administrators learned and practised powerful planning tools to envision positive inclusive lives for people with disabilities. The lively and energetic group learned person-centred, 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 is expected to inject verve and vim into Goa's upcoming Purple Fest in January 2024, a celebration of the inclusive and diverse state.
“Improving the quality of teaching and learning is vital for inclusion of children with disabilities into 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,” said 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.