Showing posts with label Education of disabled children in govt schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education of disabled children in govt schools. Show all posts

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Naveen Kumar Vs. Commissioner East Delhi Municipal Corporation & 3 Others | Case No.4/1738/2017-Wel/CD/7093-96 | Dated: 04.05.2018

In the Court of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
National Capital Territory of Delhi
25- D, Mata Sundari Road, Near Guru Nanak Eye Centre, New Delhi-2
Phone-011-23216002-04, Telefax: 011-23216005, Email: comdis.delhi@nic.in
[Vested with powers of Civil Court under the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016]

Case No.4/1738/2017-Wel/CD/7093-96                                      Dated: 04.05.2018

In the matter of:

Mr. Naveen kumar
Deputy General Secretary
Akhil Dilli Prathmik Shikshak Sangh
Nigam Vidyalaya,C-5A Janakpuri,
New Delhi-110058
                                                                                              …………..Petitioner
Versus

Commissioner
East Delhi Municipal Corporation
419, Udyog sadan patparganj
Industrial area New Delhi-110092                                      ...............Respondent no 1

Commissioner
South Delhi Municipal Corporation,
Dr, S.P.M Civic Centre
J.L.N. Marg,
New Delhi-110028                                                                      ............Respondent no 2

Commissioner
North Delhi Municipal Corporation,
4th floor Dr, S.P.M Civic Centre
J.L.N. Marg,
New Delhi-110028                                                                     .............Respondent no 3

The Director
Directorate of Education
Govt of NCT Delhi
Old Secretariat
Delhi-110054                                                                                 .........Respondent no 4

Date of Hearing: 17.04.2018
Present: Sh. A.K. Goel, DDE, Directorate of Education, Sh. B.R. Meena, SO, North DMC, Sh. M.Mandal, ADE, Education (EDMC), Ms. Mini Sharma, EDMC, Dr. Mukesh Chand, Director of Education, Sh. R.C. Baweja, EDMC

ORDER

            The above named complainant vide complaint dated 15.09.2017 submitted that despite orders of Hon’ble High Court and instructions of various authorities like CBSE, RCI, of Government of NCT of Delhi and Municipal Corporations have not provided even single Special Educator (Primary) for children with disabilities. The complainant prayed that State Project Director of UEE, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, Government of NCT of Delhi be directed to provide Special Director (Primary) /Resource Person in each municipal corporation school on contract/temporary/Guest teachers for academic session 2017-18 or till DSSSB appoints permanent Special Educator so that 2017-18 does not become zero session for children with disabilities.  The complainant also requested to direct the respondent to appoint only such Special Director (Primary) who fulfils the recruitment norms prescribed by RCI.  The complaint was taken up with the respondents vide notice dated 27.09.2017.

2.  The Directorate of Education vide letter dated 16.10.2016 informed that appointment of Special Educator (Primary) in MCD on regular/contractual /guest is beyond the control of Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi.  As regards, deployment of resource person in schools of Directorate of education, MCD, NDMC, DCB, there are 56 sanctioned posts of resource persons (CWSN).  Out of which 14 are working in the academic year, 2017-18 and the process to fill the remaining posts was under way.  There was no response from the respondent no. 2 and 3.

3.  Upon considering the reply of respondent no.  4 hearing was scheduled on 17.01.2018 and respondents were directed to submit following information on or before date of hearing:

i.               The number of schools functioning under the concerned respondents: 1028
ii.            The number of sanctioned posts of special education teacher: (1024+724) = 1728 (TGT), 300- PGT
iii.           The number of resource centres: 14
iv.           The number of special education teachers appointed on regular basis: 412
v.            The number of special education teachers appointed on contract/temporary basis or as guest teachers: 333
vi.           Proposal to meet the short fall.

4.  During the hearing on 17.1.2018 respondent No. 4 reiterated that the responsibility to provide Special Education Teachers (Primary) in MCD schools is beyond the control of Directorate of Education.  It was assured that the recruitment of primary and upper primary resource persons (CWSN) under IESSA shall be engaged as per recruitment norms prescribed by RCI.   They submitted two letters dated 15.01.2018 as per which, “(i) provision of 01 Special Education Teacher (Primary) in each school of MCD is prime responsibility of MCD and the same is beyond the control of Directorate of Education, GNCT of Delhi.  The service of resource person (CWSN) under IESSA in MCD schools is a stop gap arrangement.  There are 56 sanctioned posts of resource person (SWSN) under IESSA out of which 13 are working in the current academic year 2017-18 and the process to fill up the remaining posts is under way. (ii) it is hereby ensured that the recruitment of primary and upper primary resource person (CWSN) under IESSA shall be engaged as per recruitment norms prescribed by RCI.”  The letters also contained the following information:

i)              The number of schools functioning under the concerned
            Respondents: 1028
ii)             The number of sanctioned posts of special education teacher:
(1024+724) =1728 (TGT), 300-PGT
iii)           The number of resource centres: 14
iv)           The number of special education teachers appointed on regular
basis: 412
v)            The number of special education teachers appointed on
contract/temporary basis or as guest teachers: 333
vi)           Proposal to meet the short fall: Nil

5.  They further submitted that the requisition to appoint regular Special Education Teachers (SET) for 1329 posts has already been sent to DSSSB.  Process for engaging 278 guest SET is likely to be completed by 19.01.2018.   They also clarified that 1080 posts of SETs were sanctioned on 29.12.2017 and requisition for 724 posts has already been sent to DSSSB for filling up on regular basis.  Simultaneously, action to engage Guest Teachers on contract basis is also under way and will be expedited.  The effort is to engage as many guest teachers as possible. 

6.  The representatives of North DMC and East DMC submitted the following information in compliance with the ROP dated 18.12.2017:

North DMC:

Q.No.
Question
Answer
1
The number of schools functioning under the concerned respondents;
There are 715 schools functioning under the Education department, North DMC;
2
The number of sectioned posts of Special Education teachers;
There are 719 sanctioned posts of Special Educator (Pry.)in the Education Deptt. North DMC, One Special Educator (Phy.) shall be posted in each thereof.
3.
The number of resource centres, if any indicating the details of resources in the resource rooms;
No

4
The number of special education teachers appointed on regular basis
28 Special Educator (Pry.) teachers has been appointed on regular basis.
5
The number of special education teachers appointed on contract/temporary basis or as guest teachers;
2 Special Educator (Pry.) Teachers has been engaged on contract basis.
6
 Proposal to meet the short fall;
Proposal for recruitement of 691 Special Educator (Pry.) teachers has been forwarded to DSSSB (Recruiting agency) through South DMC (Nodal Corporation for appointment)


East DMC:

             i.365 schools are running under jurisdiction of EDMC
            ii.365 posts of Special Educator are sanctioned in EDMC
           iii.No resource centres are available in EDMC
           iv.33 Special Educators are working on regular basis in EDMC
            v.No Special Educator is working on contract/temporary basis or as guest teachers.
           vi.To fill the 332 post of Special Educator on regular basis the request has been sent to DSSSB (the recruiting agency) through SDMC.

7. It is observed that number of special education teachers on regular and on contract basis taken together at just 35% of the sanctioned posts in DOE’s schools, is inadequate to ensure quality education of children with disabilities.  The situation in North DMC and East DMC is rather dismal at 4% and 9% respectively.  South DMC would have no better picture. The need for taking urgent steps to improve the situation so that the children with disabilities were not deprived of their basic right was emphasised and all the respondents were also directed to submit by 19.02.2018, the status and the plan of action to deploy at least two special educators in every school as per the directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi. On next date of hearing on 28.02.2018, the representatives of Directorate of Education, East DMC and South DMC submitted the status of appointment of Special Education Teachers and the Resource Centres. None appeared on behalf of north DMC nor was any status report and the plan of action received. 

8.         Upon perusal of the status reports and action taken by DOE, EDMC and SDMC and the discussion during the hearing, it emerged that the deployment of CTET qualified Special Education teachers through DSSSB is not likely to improve considerably in near future as such candidates do not become available for various reasons.  The reasons prima-facie range from inadequate number of special education teachers qualifying CTET, not meeting the requirement of the upper age  hint of 30 years for appointment as Guest Teachers or on contract basis, less number of institutions conducting RCI approved courses, etc.  In view of that situation, all the respondents are advised to consider the following till the situation improved and the matter was listed for hearing on 17.04.2018.

(i)            Relax the qualification of CTET for appointment as Special Education Teachers.
(ii)          Relax the upper age limit atleast for appointment as Guest Teachers or on contract basis. 
(iii)         Open all vacant posts of Special Education Teachers for short term appointment on contract basis till candidates become available for regular appointment through DSSSB. 
(iv)         Encourage the Universities/Colleges/institutions in NCT of Delhi to conduct RCI approved courses to improve the supply of special education teachers. 

9.   On the next date of hearing on 17.04.2018, the representatives of Directorate of Education submitted that upper age relaxation and relaxation of CTET qualification is not possible and also not required as they have enough number of special education teachers against sanctioned of 1747 posts in 1029 schools, They have ensured one special education teacher in every school and are making efforts to appoint more special education teachers through DSSSB.

10.  East DMC and North DMC vide their letters dated 17.04.2018 have submitted that it is not possible to relax minimum qualification/eligibility criteria and relaxation in upper age limit for appointment of Guest Teachers.  The same is the case with the South DMC who have added vide letter dated 18.4.2018 that DSSSB has already issued advertisement and written examination is likely to be conducted in July 2018. It has also been stated by East DMC that appointment of Special Educator, on contract basis will take atleast 4-5 months and the matter is being monitored by the Hon’ble High Court.

11.  It is a matter of grave concern that even after six years of creation of the posts of special education teachers in the year 2012, and the matter being taken up by this court since May 2015, the three municipal corporations could fill up less than 10% of the posts.  It appears to me that the concerned authorities have not taken effective and innovative steps to ensure that the children with disabilities in different schools are enabled to learn on equal basis with others as mandated by the relevant laws. It is almost crystal clear that even in the ensuing academic session 2018-19 also, the required numbers of candidates for the post of special educators would not be available unless some innovative steps are taken. It is unlikely that the respondents are unaware of the reasons for unavailability of candidates.

12.  In the circumstances, it is recommended that all the respondents should take effective steps and fill up all the sanctioned posts of special education teachers within 3 months from the date of receipt of this order and ensure that all the children with disabilities in the schools are provided with the services of special education teachers and all other teaching learning resource material on equal basis with other children. The respondents are also advised to consider introducing some innovative ways of optimizing utilization of the services of special education teaches, as a single education teacher trained in a single disability would not be able to do justice to the children with other disabilities or those with multiple disability. A cluster and resource pooling approach within reasonable limit of geographical area could be adopted so that individual need based support can be ensured to each child with disability. While doing, transport needs of the children be kept in view. It is also recommended that Rehabilitation Council of India may also be consulted with regard to availability of qualified special education teachers. This court be informed of the action taken as required under section 81 of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

13.        The Complaint is disposed of.

14.       Given under my hand and the seal of the Court this 04th day of May,
2018.

(T.D. Dhariyal)

                                       State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities