Shocking state of Jharkhand – 14 schools for special needs kids shut for lack of teachers

Just a day after the President of India Ram Nath Kovind said that every teacher must be trained to meet the needs of special needs kids, comes this shocking report from Jharkhand.

14 special schools shut for last 10 years

As many as 14 schools, built exclusively for the deaf, speech impaired and blind children, have been shut for the last 8-10 years. Why? Because there are not enough teachers. This is just one more instance of the complete disregard shown by state governments towards the needs of children with disabilities.

Of the schools that are shut, eight are meant for the deaf and speech impaired. These are in Giridih, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Gumla, Bokaro, Chaibasa and Chatra. There are six schools for the blind that are shut.

Tall claims by Chief Minister?

This also makes Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das’ announcement of the launch of a State Disability Trust ring hollow. Das said this at a program to mark World Disability Day.

Of the schools that are shut, eight are meant for the deaf and speech impaired. These are in Giridih, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Gumla, Bokaro, Chaibasa and Chatra. There are six schools for the blind that are shut.

No rules for hiring teachers

The state disability commissioner said all the buildings were ready and the schools could start as soon as infrastructure and manpower were in place. But another senior official said that the schools were not running as rules for hiring of teachers were not in place. The rules have now been passed by the cabinet and there are plans to hire them soon.

Experts said that a school for the blind never even started and is now being used as a military camp.