Separate training for teachers to educate differently-abled kids: Irani

New Delhi: A separate academy would be set up to train teachers to impart education to differently-abled children and address their challenges, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said. "The academy and institutions will be developed so that teachers can be specially trained for those who are differently able and their challenges and needs are addressed within the educational system," she told an UNESCO conference on the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for persons with disabilities.

She said the soon-to-be launched Madan Mohan Malviya teaching mission also acknowledges the need to train teachers to address challenges of specially-abled children. The mission was announced in this year's general budget and Rs 500 crore has been allocated toward this initiative.

The minister also shared plans to engage the best of practices the world has to offer in the field of ICT and education so that we can adapt these technologies and methodologies so that our citizens can be helped.

In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a spreading knowledge through the digital India drive, she said the government has decided to spread education through ICT to remotest corner.

Director General of UNESCO Irina Bokova later called on Irani during which both emphasised on strengthening the cooperation with the UN body across all the areas of its competence. Irani thanked Bokova for relocating the statue of Shri Aurobindo in the UNESCO premises in Paris.