NEP and PRASHAST

KOKILA DHAKAL,GT (Arts) Ranka Government Senior Secondary School

Have you downloaded the PRASHAST App using your school's UDISE code?

Having served as a teacher for the past 25 years, I often reflect on my journey in the classroom. Looking back, I feel that there may have been children with special educational needs whose learning requirements I was unable to fully recognize because I lacked the necessary knowledge and understanding. As a result, some children may not have received the attention, encouragement, and support they truly deserved, and I sincerely regret that.

The PRASHAST App has been an eye-opener for me, and I believe it can be equally valuable for every teacher.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 envisions an education system where every child, irrespective of their background or learning needs, has access to equitable, inclusive, and quality education. PRASHAST is one of the initiatives that supports this vision by empowering teachers to identify children who may require additional educational support and by promoting inclusive classroom practices.

The primary objective of the app is to help teachers identify and understand the diverse learning needs and developmental differences among students. By recognizing these needs at an early stage, teachers can provide appropriate support, make suitable classroom accommodations, and help every child participate equally in both scholastic and holistic development. More importantly, the app encourages teachers to recognize each child's strengths and abilities so that they can be nurtured to reach their full potential.

One of the greatest strengths of the PRASHAST App is that it equips teachers to recognize children who may have learning differences, developmental conditions, sensory needs, or behavioural and emotional challenges that often go unnoticed in a regular classroom. These may include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Specific Learning Disabilities (SLDs) such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, intellectual developmental disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, hearing impairment, visual impairment, speech and language disorders, and other developmental delays.

In regions such as Sikkim, where schools cater to children from diverse geographical, linguistic, and socio-economic backgrounds, teachers may also encounter students whose learning is affected by delayed developmental milestones, communication difficulties, hearing or vision impairments, or undiagnosed learning differences. Many of these children possess remarkable abilities and talents but require suitable teaching strategies and timely support to fully realize their potential. The PRASHAST App helps teachers identify the early indicators of these conditions, understand their educational implications, and facilitate timely referrals for professional assessment and intervention whenever necessary

The app is simple and user-friendly to use.

Steps to use the PRASHAST App

·         Download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store (iOS).

·         Register by entering your personal details along with your school's UDISE code.

·         You will be guided through ten learning modules. It is important to watch or listen to each module carefully without skipping, as every module builds your understanding of inclusive education.

·         After completing the modules, the app provides structured screening tools and guidance to help teachers identify children who may require additional educational support. It also explains the indicators to observe in the classroom and the appropriate steps to take for further support and referral where necessary.

·         Completing the modules equips teachers with a better understanding of Students with Special Needs (SwSN) and helps develop the right perspective, knowledge, and sensitivity required to guide and support them effectively.

As a teacher, I strongly believe that many schools have children who require additional educational support. To ensure that every learner receives the educational opportunities and assistance they are entitled to, every school should have access to special educators who can work alongside classroom teachers. While the PRASHAST App empowers teachers with knowledge and awareness, trained special educators remain essential in providing individualized guidance and support.

Inclusive education is not merely about providing equal access to classrooms—it is about ensuring that every child feels accepted, understood, respected, and empowered to learn. When teachers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools, they become the driving force behind creating classrooms where every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

The first person to notice a child's unique learning needs is rarely a doctor or a counsellorit is the teacher. A teacher's awareness today can become a child's confidence tomorrow, opening doors to opportunities that may have otherwise remained closed. Every child has the potential to achieve great things; all they need is someone who recognizes it in time. Will we choose to be that teacher?