72 lakh teachers trained to use technology to identify students with disabilities
The Indian Ministry of Education has trained 72 lakh teachers to use the PRASHAST digital tool to identify students with disabilities. The initiative aims to improve early detection of 21 disability conditions in schools across the country.
Why it matters
This nationwide program is a critical step toward inclusive education and ensuring that students with hidden disabilities receive necessary support.
In a nationwide outreach covering up to 60,000 schools and 72 lakh teachers, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has trained teachers to identify children with probable disability conditions using PRASHAST, a school-based screening tool.
“Department of School Education has been conducting continuous sensitisation of general teachers on inclusive education through PRASHAST for the past three months,” a senior Ministry official said.
PRASHAST is a digital tool to help identify children with 21 disability conditions listed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. “Many of these conditions are not easily identifiable, especially those without visible symptoms, as schools often lack systematic tools to identify such needs early,” the official added.
The tool’s two-part checklist enables teachers to screen students based on observable indicators, while special educators validate cases and facilitate referrals for medical assessment, wherever required.
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