THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major decision to support special schools, the Cabinet on Wednesday decided to make special schools for the mentally challenged with a strength of 100 or more students, aided. With this, as many as 23 schools out of the total 278 such schools, will become aided. Currently, there’s only one special school for the mentally challenged in the government sector.
‘’Though there are a total of 278 such schools in the state, only one of them is run by the government. The remaining are run by various private organisations. At a time when the government is providing free education up to Plus Two level, there’s a major injustice in it. Hence, a decision was taken to make these schools aided,’’ Oommen Chandy said at the post-Cabinet media briefing. With the Cabinet decision, 23 out of the 277 privately-run special schools will get aided status.
The Cabinet also made an in-principle decision to give aided status to special schools with a strength of 50 or more students. The departments concerned have been directed to process this decision.
With this move, mentally challenged students will get free education up to Plus Two level. The Chief Minister said the decision to grant aided status to special schools will be applicable to BUD schools operated by local bodies also.
“The BUD schools under the local self government institutions will also be made aided if they have a strength of 100 or more students. These schools will continue to be under the local bodies,’’ Chandy said.