25 Nov : As the international conference on education begins in Geneva on Tuesday, India will strongly pitch for broadening the scope of inclusive education to encompass equality of opportunity as well as economic and social mobility for all sections.
A delegation led by Minister of State for HRD D Purandeswari will stress on how inclusive education could enhance and democratise learning opportunities in terms of providing access to all sections, including backward classes, disadvantaged groups and minorities.
The four-day conference, being organised by UNESCO every four years, will debate on theme of inclusive education.India will share its recent efforts on expansion of education system in the country with focus on social inclusion and academic excellence.
The theme of the conference assumes significance for India which has recently launched a number of programmes for inclusive education, including those for educating disabled children and minority sections, a senior HRD Ministry official told the news agency.
The Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan (SSA), the government’s flagship programme for achieving universalisation of elementary education, has adopted an expansive and multi-option model for educating children with special needs.
The conference, being attended by education ministers from UNESCO member states, would debate on topics like, ‘Form inclusive education to inclusive society’ and ‘Inclusive education: from vision to practice’.