Children with Special Needs (CWSNs)-Statistical data
M Ahmad
The number of children with disabilities globally is estimated at almost 240 million, according to a new UNICEF report. Fifteen per cent of the world’s population – at least one billion people – have some form of disability, whether present at birth or acquired later in life and nearly 240 million of them are children and are the world’s largest minority with various disabilities.
This estimate is higher than previous figures and is based on a more meaningful and inclusive understanding of disability, which considers several domains of functioning, including those related to psychosocial well-being. This figure is increasing through population growth, medical advances and the ageing process, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Programme. Three-fourths of the children with disabilities at the age of five years and one-fourth between 5-19 years do not go to any educational institution. It said only 61 percent of CWSNs aged between 5 and 19 are attending educational institution.
According to UNESCO, India is home to 8 million children with disabilities, and 45% of them fail to attain literacy. The percentage of children attending schools is the lowest among those with multiple disabilities, mental illnesses, and mental retardatio (more than 50% do not attend school). Lack of accessible physical infrastructure, assistive technologies, information and communication technology, and devices aggravates the situation of school dropout among disabled children. 47 per cent more likely to be out of primary school, 33 per cent more likely to be out of lower-secondary school and 27 per cent more likely to be out of upper secondary school.
Unified District Information System of Education (UDISE), India has prepared various comparative reports regarding the Children With Special Needs (CWSNs). Some of them are highlighted as below:-
Number of CWSNs enrolled in schools from class I-12th in India (2020-21)
Boys: 12,49,914
Girls: 9,41,284
Total: 21,91,1198
Number of Special Schools in India Primary Schools 4,576 Middle Schools 3,525 High Schools 579 Higher Sec Schools 135
Highest number of Special Schools UP
2249 Tamil Nadu
2041 MP
1225
Govt aided Schools High Schools Hr Sec Schools
50 18
Private unaided Schools 342 103
Highest enrolment of CWSNs UP (1-12th) 3,16,896 Maharashtra (1-12th) 2,76,816
Number of teachers trained in India to teach CWSNS in 2020-21:
Male: 2,83 671 Female: 3,83,182 Total: 6,66,853
Highest number of teachers trained for CWSNs 20-21: Tamil Nadu: 1,87,000 followed by Karnatka: 1,25,000
Stastical data Jammu & Kashmir
Number of CWSNs enrolled in schools in J&K (Classwise) Pre Primary Girls Pre Primary Boys Ist
Girls Ist
Boys 2nd
Girls 2nd
Boys
569 878 807 1319 808 1260
3rd
Girls 3rd
Boys 4th
Girls 4th
Boys 5th
Girls 5th
Boys
943 1326 994 1458 1018 1446
6th
Girls 6th
Boys 7th
Girls 7th
Boys 8th
Girls 8th
Boys
1014 1338 915 1274 854 1127
9th
Girls 9th
Boys 10th
Girls 10th
Boys 11th
Girls 11th
Boys
624 681 522 635 269 264
12th
Girls 12th
Girls Toal
Enrolment
209 194 22,736
The above information revels that number of CWSNS enrolled in J&K during academic session 2020-21 is as under:
Boys: 13,190 Girls: 9,546 Total: 22,736
Class Nur to 9th : 20,653 Class 10th : 1157 Class 11th & 12th : 936
Schools for CWSNs in J&K Total Primary Schools Middle Schools High Schools Hr Sec Schools
08 02 02 02 02
Special Schools (Districtwise) Anantnag Baramulla Srinagar Jammu
01 02 02 03
Govt aided Schools Nil
Private Unaided Schools 08
It is important to mention here that J&K is having only 08 schools for CWSNs with two Higher Secondary Institutions, one at Srinagar and other at Jammu. All the eight schools are Private Unaided.
Enrollment Districtwise in J&K
Kashmir
Division Anantnag
1844 Bandipora
429 Baramulla
2633 Budgam
1801 Ganderbal
867 Kulgam 948
Kupwara 1664 Pulwama 1468 Shopian 688 Srinagar 1347
Jammu
Division Jammu 1318 Doda
844 Kathua 765 Kistiwar358 Poonch 1019 Ramban 1092
Rajouri 1455 Reasi 212 Samba 748 Udmpur 1212
The above figures revel :-
Enrolment of CWSNs in Kashmir Division: 13,689 , Higest in District Baramulla.
Enrolment of CWSNs in Kashmir Division: 9,047 , Higest in District Rajouri.
Teachers trained for CWSNs in J&K 20-21: Male: 1745 Female: 1266 Total: 3011
Teachers trained for CWSNs in J&K 19-20:
Male: 1371 Female: 1003 Total: 2374
Point of Concern:
According the census 2011, the total population of CWSNs (with different types of disability) in J&K including Ladhak upto 18 years age, is 1,01,428 including male 56,336 and female 45,062.
Breakup: VI: 18080 HI: 21455 SI: 7605 Movement: 11982 MR: 5711 MI: 3566 Others: 21162 Multiple Disabilities: 11867
UDISE report for 2021 revels that only 22,736 CWSNs are enrolled in various chools in J&K so there is a gap of 78,692 CWSNs. The concern needs to be clarified.
(The author a regular contributor for ‘Kashmir Vision’)
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