Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 08 September 2025
Mr. T.S.G. Bhasker, Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC), has urged the Andaman & Nicobar Administration to take immediate steps to fill critical gaps in the educational support system across the Union Territory’s schools.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary on September 2, 2025, Mr. Bhasker raised concerns over the alarming absence of Special Educators, Counsellors, and Speech Therapists in several government and aided schools in the islands. He pointed out that this shortfall is a violation of both the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, which mandate inclusive and equitable education for all children.
“Many children with learning disabilities, speech impairments, and emotional or mental health needs are being deprived of the support they are legally entitled to,” he wrote.
Calling for urgent intervention, Mr. Bhasker recommended a comprehensive assessment of the current availability of support professionals, collaboration with expert institutions such as the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD) for recruitment, and strict implementation of NEP 2020 provisions related to inclusive education.
He further highlighted that the lack of trained professionals in schools places undue pressure on regular teachers, who are often not equipped to address the diverse needs of children with disabilities or emotional challenges.
“Ensuring access to special educators and support staff is not just a policy mandate—it is a moral and social responsibility,” he stressed.
Mr. Bhasker appealed to the Administration to prioritize the issue so that no child in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands is left behind in the journey toward inclusive education.
