Able education for disableds

Dr MK Jayaraj and co at Mammen Mappillai Hall in Kottayam.

KOTTAYAM: Dr MK Jayaraj Commission appointed by the state government of Kerala to look upon the issues of the intellectually disabled children in the state has been discussed here at KC Mammen Mappilla Hall on Oct 18.

A panel discussion was held here on the challenges faced by the intellectually disabled children in Kerala based on Jayaraj Commission Report where the members of the panel decided to bring changes in the syllabus of B.Ed (Bachelor in Education) and M.Ed (Master in Education) programmes.

It was attended by Dr MK Jayaraj, Principal of State Institute for the Mentally Challenged, Dr PS Sukumaran, School of Behavioral Science, MG University and other eminent personalities from the field of media, politics and human rights.

Fr Jisho Alumkal, faculty member at Kurakose Elias College, Mannanam said that with the changes in the educational policy the teachers will be trained specially to teach the intellectually disabled students. The panel also suggested to set up more government institutions for such students in the state.

The discussion was held during the handicraft exhibition, organized by KE College, Mannanam where more than 100 students from 17 various special schools from all over the state participated. The exhibition was inaugurated by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.

“This is a two day programme organized by a social worker's group from KE College, Mannanam. The exhibition is specially designed to encourage the ability of those children to make them feel that they are not deprived of this world. On the second day we organise a cultural programme where 920 students from 52 schools will perform,” said Fr Jisho Alumkal.