Inclusive Education: Why Schools Must Welcome Children with Down Syndrome

Mumbai, India: Despite growing awareness, children with Down syndrome continue to face exclusion in mainstream schools due to lack of trained educators, rigid curricula, and social stigma. Experts and parents stress the urgent need for inclusive education, better teacher training, and policy reforms to ensure equal learning opportunities.

Benifer Satarawala, Principal of Priyanj Special School (Andheri), highlights key challenges such as insufficient individualized support, large student-teacher ratios, and a lack of specialized teachers. She emphasizes that while policies promote inclusion, implementation remains inconsistent.

Renowned psychiatrist Dr. Harish Shetty urges schools to hire special educators to foster an inclusive environment, sensitizing students and boosting confidence among children with special needs. He also calls for the establishment of disability centers at the taluka level to bridge existing gaps.

Parents like Umang Gajala and Kanika Singh share their struggles, pointing out that most schools are either reluctant to admit children with Down syndrome or unequipped to support them. They stress the need for personalized learning plans and better infrastructure to nurture the abilities of special needs children.

As World Down Syndrome Day (March 21) serves as a reminder of these challenges, experts call for systemic reforms to make education a right, not a privilege, ensuring an inclusive future for all.