SC Order on Special Educator Recruitment Sparks Hope in Odisha

SC Order on Special Educator Recruitment Sparks Hope in Odisha

The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and states, including Odisha, to notify the number of sanctioned posts for special educators by March 28 and fill them within 12 weeks. This decision has raised hopes among aspiring special educators in the state.

As per data presented before the court, Odisha has 86,689 out of 15,63,470 children with special needs in India. However, the state has yet to identify and sanction the required number of special educator posts, according to the Odisha Special Educator Federation for Divyang.

Federation president Suryakanta Behera stated that if the recruitment process follows the SC order, over 9,000 unemployed special educators in Odisha will benefit. General Secretary Ayusman Choudhury emphasized that the ruling will enhance access to quality education for children with disabilities and uphold their rights under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

The Supreme Court issued this directive in response to petitions filed by teachers across various states, including Odisha, highlighting the lack of special educators. The petitioners stressed the need for trained professionals in every school to support children with disabilities and uphold the Right to Education.

A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran, ruled on March 7 that states must:

• Identify and sanction special educator posts by March 28, 2025.
• Advertise the vacancies in widely circulated newspapers and on official government websites.
• Complete the selection and appointment process within 12 weeks.

Additionally, states must form a screening committee including the state commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, the Secretary of Education, and a nominee from the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI).

This landmark order is expected to bring much-needed reforms in special education and ensure inclusive learning opportunities for children with disabilities in Odisha.