Overworked special educators in Coimbatore find it tough to support children with disabilities
Special educators in Coimbatore are struggling with heavy workloads due to a significant shortage of staff, with only 67 educators serving over 3,000 children with disabilities. The educators are calling for the government to fill long-standing vacancies to ensure consistent support for students.
Why it matters
The shortage of specialized staff directly impacts the quality of care and educational access for children with disabilities in the region.
Special educators in Coimbatore district appealed to the government to fill vacancies, citing the heavy workload and difficulties in providing regular support to children with disabilities.
According to official data, there are only 67 special educators for the district’s 3,125 children with disabilities, while over 100 special educators are required to cater to the needs of the children, said one of the special educators, who did not wish to be named. No fresh appointments have been made since 2018, and vacancies arising out of retirements and deaths remain unfilled, the educator added.
As for the 382 children with severe disabilities, the educators visit their homes regularly to train them.
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