Opportunities to collaborate with one's alma mater are always a blessing. It's incredibly reassuring when your former teachers remember you not for who you once were, but for who you have become. I had the privilege of conducting a session at Bhavans Kochi Kendra on the National Education Policy (NEP), National Curriculum Framework (NCF), and the role of counsellors and special educators. This dynamic group represents the voices of over 15,000 students across 7 Bhavan's schools in the city. The NEP, with its idealistic goals and ambitious pathways, is certainly a far cry from the ground realities. However, we must start somewhere. It's essential to shift our thinking away from the deficit model of diagnosis, which perpetuates segregation. Instead, let's work towards a strength-based model that acknowledges not only the deficits but also the strengths of students, teachers, and parents. Inclusion should be a battle in which there are no opponents; only team members who are yet to learn. Educating teachers, parents, and administrators is our responsibility, given the existing legal framework, including RPD 2016, MHA 2017, and NEP 2020. How a child feels about their learning forms the foundation for how they think about a subject and what they do about it. Anxiety is often at the root of these emotions. It's the feeling of "I don't know how to handle this subject/skill," which escalates to "I can't handle this subject/skill," and eventually "I won't." Our role is to break down subjects/skills into manageable components. The same is true for teachers and parents; understanding their anxieties is the first step. To see different results, we must do things differently. Repeating the same approaches and expecting different outcomes leads to frustration. We understand the limitations in the availability of resource persons, so let's create resource materials, specifically tailored for students, teachers, and parents. Sharing these resources with partner schools can prevent duplication of efforts. Focus on engaging teachers and parents rather than pulling students out of mainstream activities, especially those related to their skill areas. Believe in yourself, then believe a little more. You are the changemakers, and together, we can make a difference. #TogetherWeCan
