Odisha government enables online admission for kids with special needs
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BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government on Tuesday announced to conduct online admission in 103 special schools in the state. A portal has been developed by the department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), which was launched on Tuesday to conduct the process of admissions for the children with special needs.
Amidst the pandemic when maintaining social distance is very important the portal will ease the admission process of differently abled children in special schools. Parents need not come to the school for admission of their children in the special schools, said SSEPD minister Ashok Chandra Panda.
The department has asked all schools in different districts to enrol children with special needs for the 2020-21 academic session with immediate effect. The 103 special schools in the state are getting grant-in-aid from the department.
In a letter to all district authorities the department has asked It is therefore requested that all concerned, particularly staff of special schools may please be instructed to adopt the above system meticulously and facilitate in the admission process.
However, some civil services organisations said, in rural areas where most parents are worried over the financial distress conditions occurred due to covid-19 pandemic may not come forward for online admission. It would be better if the government could facilitate the admission of children in special schools through some voluntary organisation in rural areas. Many parents may not have access to internet connectivity or have the information of the admission process, said Anusuya Rath, a parent of a visually challenged child.