Key Takeaways
- The three‑day training equipped 20 special educators with person‑centric tools for inclusive practice.
- A private‑public partnership between GSCPCR, Sangath India, and Keystone Institute drove the event.
- The initiative supports Goa’s upcoming Purple Fest 2024, celebrating diversity and inclusion.
Special Educators from many schools and centres, across Goa, which support children and adults with disabilities, gathered to study and learn in a certificate course on Tools for Inclusive Practice, under a unique private-public partnership between the Goa State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR), Sangath India, and Keystone Institute India, all of whom joined hands with teachers to work towards inclusion.
The three‑day, creative and collaborative learning event was launched by Ms. Ayushi, IAS Assistant Collector North Goa, and Mr. Peter F. Borges, Chairperson, Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Also present were Elizabeth Neuville, Executive Director of Keystone Institute India, and Percy Cardozo, Inclusive Education Project Lead at Sangath, on 6 September 2023 at South Goa Collectorate.
Key highlights included the focus on inclusive practice tools and community belonging.
20 selected special educators and administrators learned and practiced powerful planning tools to envision positive inclusive lives for people with disabilities. The lively and energetic group learned person-centric, practical tools they could and will use right away.
They were also challenged and supported to shift mindsets towards lives of belonging and community for people with disabilities.
Peter F Borges, Chairperson, GSCPCR, said, ‘This world-class event will surely spark energy and action towards Goa’s upcoming Purple Fest in January 2024, a celebration of our inclusive and diverse Goa. Improving the quality of teaching and learning is vital for inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. This requires changes and adaptations in content, teaching methods, and promoting innovative structure of the educational system to provide learning opportunities for all children.’
The Goa SCPCR has been driving inclusive education policy reforms through a working group, which includes capacity development of education institutions and teacher training.
