History of Evolution and Development of Inclusive Education in India: A Study

Abstract

One of the core objectives of NEP 2020 is to radically promote inclusive education in India.   Inclusion is all about embracing the diversity of learners valuing their unique strengths, challenges and learning styles. Inclusion earlier meant, that children with disability will be allowed in regular classrooms which has been designed and curated for children without disabilities.  But over the years, continuous restructuring of policies and practices have been done in this field. Inclusive education in classrooms has progressed significantly. For this, a system-wide transformation of schools and classrooms are required. 

UNESCO (2005), states that. “Inclusive education is a process of addressing and responding to the diversity of needs of all learners through increasing participation in learning, cultures and communities, and reducing exclusion within and from education. It involves changes and modifications in content, approaches, structures and strategies, with a common vision which covers all children of the appropriate age range and a conviction that it is the responsibility of the state to educate all children.” This paper mainly focuses on the how Inclusive Education has developed during the course of time in our country, India.