A division bench of justice R Mahadevan and justice J Sathya Narayana Prasad was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by R Vetrivel Murugan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Council of Special Schools.
The petitioner stated that the special schools provide specially designed curriculum for children with special educational needs by the dedicated team of faculty which includes special educators, physio/ speech/ occupational therapist, psychologists and caretakers. The special schools run by NGOs play a vital role in education, training and rehabilitation to special needs children in our state but they face many challenges to run the schools.
He stated that the state government initiated a scheme called ‘Salary Grant’ to two special educators and one physiotherapist to each recognized special schools run by the NGOs. This salary grant scheme was initiated in the year 2007 at 3,000 per staff and the same had been enhanced periodically. From this financial year, its been revised to 18,000.
He stated that special teachers working in special schools run by NGOs are paid a meagre salary. Therefore, these special teachers shift to regular government-run schools. Due to this, it becomes difficult to get enough special educators. The NGOs have been continuously requesting the government to provide government scale of pay to the special school educators on a par with regular school teachers.
Hence, the petitioner moved the HC Madurai bench seeking a direction to authorities to ensure free and compulsory education to children with special needs as per existing rules, regulations and schemes by initiating the process of appointment of special educators as per teacher pupil ratio 1:8 in schools run by NGOs for special needs children.