An estimated 93 million children around the globe suffer from some or other kind of disability and having equal access to health care, education, and employment opportunities is still a dream for many. Aspirations, dreams, wishes, they have it all, a wish to live a normal happy life.

Education is considered one of the major key factors that determine human capital formation and hence personal well-being and welfare. By excluding children with special needs from opportunities for employment and education, we bear a devastating blow to the social and economic costs, making them an important part of society.

A person’s environment has a huge impact on the experience and extent of disability and Inaccessible environments create disability by creating barriers to participation and inclusion. But getting accepted by society remains one of the issues on the top be addressed, Therefore, moving away from traditional pedagogies and towards more learner-centered approaches that recognize that each individual has an ability to learn and a specific way of learning; can bring the necessary social awareness in the society and normalize lives of disabled people.

“Disability is one of the most serious barriers to education across the globe.”

So how are we supposed to fix this?

The answer is inclusive education.

Inclusive education is the most effective way to give all children a fair chance to go to school, learn and develop the skills they need to thrive. Inclusive education means all children in the same schools. It means real learning opportunities for groups who have traditionally been excluded. For children who are not disabled, contact with children with a disability in an inclusive setting can, over the longer term, increase familiarity and reduce prejudice. Inclusive education is thus central in promoting inclusive and equitable societies. These systems value the unique contributions students of all backgrounds bring to the classroom and allow diverse groups to grow side by side, to the benefit of all.

OBJECTIVE

Design an inclusive elementary school for 200 children.

Age group and class distribution:

Age group	Class	Student Count
5-6	Kindergarten	25
6-7	1st	35
7-8	2nd	35
8-9	3rd	35
9-10	4th	35
10-11	5th	35

• There is no area restriction.
• There is no site restriction.
• Encourage activities involving both sets of children
• Challenges dealing with to be mentioned prior
• Unarticulate, visually impaired, auditory impaired and physically challenged are must to be considered.

Awards

Total cash prize worth 21,000 INR.

• Winner: Cash prize of INR 10000
• 1st Runner-up: Cash prize of INR 6500
• 2nd Runner-up: Cash prize of INR 4500
• 10 Honorable mentions

Eligibility

Anyone can participate irrespective of profession or qualification, and present their ideas. Participants can submit multiple entries but that would require multiple registrations.

A team can have up to 3 members.

>>> Go to the competition’s website <<<