The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued revised guidelines for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) in schools, focusing on ensuring their safety, comfort, and accessibility. These new regulations are directed at all schools affiliated with the CBSE, as well as those seeking affiliation, to enhance the inclusivity of educational environments. The comprehensive guidelines, which cover various infrastructural and safety requirements, are available on the CBSE’s official website at cbse.gov.in.
Key Highlights of the Revised CBSE Guidelines for CWSN Students:
- Barrier-Free Access: Schools are required to build appropriate ramps on the ground floor to ensure barrier-free access, providing equal educational opportunities to CWSN students.
- Accessible Bathrooms: Separate CWSN-compliant bathrooms for boys and girls, with adequate space for wheelchair or walker movement, must be maintained on the ground floor or other floors where classes are held.
- Affiliation Requirements: Schools seeking affiliation or an extension of affiliation must specify the floors on which they plan to conduct lessons or practicals for CWSN students.
- Entrance and Pathways: The entrance to the school must have a flat, well-maintained surface. The pathways from the gate to school buildings, playgrounds, and toilets should be clear, hard, level, and free of obstructions.
- Classroom and Restroom Accessibility: Classrooms, restrooms, labs, and other areas must have doors with a minimum clear width of 900mm to accommodate easy access for all students.
- Walkway Safety: Walkways must be free of hanging or protruding objects like windows, lights, low branches, flowerpots, and signposts. Handrails should be installed at risk points, such as staircases and verandahs, with rounded or securely grouted ends to prevent injuries.
- Tactile Paving: Bright, contrast-colored tactile pavers, ideally yellow, should be used at slope changes, the start and end of stairways, and at turns for easy identification by visually impaired students.
- Non-Slip Surfaces: All floor surfaces should have a non-slip, anti-skid, or matt finish. Schools are advised to avoid using loose gravel or cobblestones.
Must Read: Nobel Prize Winner Slams Former US President Donald Trump For Calling Kamala Harris A ‘Communist’
These guidelines reflect CBSE’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for CWSN students. For a complete list of guidelines and detailed descriptions of signage and other measurements, schools and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the official CBSE website.
