New Delhi. : Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, unveiled a new initiative aimed at developing a skilled workforce of educators trained to teach children with disabilities. The programme, known as the Integrated Special and Inclusive Teacher Education Programme (ISITEP), is a comprehensive four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree designed to prepare teachers for students with disabilities at various academic levels, including foundational (up to Class 2), preparatory (Class 3-5), middle (Class 6-8), and secondary (Class 9-12) stages.

A senior official explained that the initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for multidisciplinary, high-quality teacher education programmes. ISITEP aims to equip educators with the knowledge and skills needed to address the unique needs of students with disabilities in diverse educational settings.

In addition to ISITEP, Minister Kumar also announced the introduction of a BSc (Hons) in Clinical Psychology. This four-year programme is designed for students with a science background who have completed their Class 12 education. The new course replaces the discontinued MPhil in Clinical Psychology and is intended to produce assistant clinical psychologists.

Both initiatives are expected to address a critical need for specialised education and healthcare, fostering inclusive development and opening up new opportunities for students pursuing careers in these fields.

During the event, the National Board of Examination in Rehabilitation (NBER) and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities also held a convocation ceremony to honour national toppers in the field of disability rehabilitation and special education at the certificate and diploma levels.

Click Here for More Latest News