Jammu and Kashmir: Srinagar to get first state-of-the-art school for specially-abled children

Srinagar is set to get its first state-of-the-art school for specially-abled children, making it the only such institution in the entire Kashmir division, deputy commissioner Srinagar Akshay Labroo said on Sunday while speaking with media.

The school, named Abhinandan School, is being developed to provide specialised education to children with visual and hearing disabilities and will cater to specially-abled students from across the Kashmir region. Describing the project as a major initiative, the deputy commissioner said the institution aims to strengthen inclusive education infrastructure in the district.

Speaking to the media, Labroo said the social welfare department is implementing several key projects in Srinagar, including Palash and Parisha special schools, alongside upgrades focusing on education, sports, and health camps for children with special needs.

He added that the Abhinandan School stands out as a flagship project and reflects the administration’s commitment to improving access to quality education for specially-abled children across the division.

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Inclusive education in Jammu and Kashmir

This year, five students with disabilities achieved distinction in the Class 12 examinations conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE).

However, the overall enrolment of children with special needs (CWSN) in schools across Jammu and Kashmir has declined by nearly 10 per cent over the past five years.

The ministry of education in the lok sabha said that enrolment stood at 22,736 in 2020–21, gradually falling to 17,993 in 2023–24, before rising to 20,534 in 2024–25.

Jammu and Kashmir had around 3.07 lakh persons with disabilities, a substantial proportion of whom were visually impaired as per census 2011.

The total spending on inclusive education in J&K rose from Rs 10.22 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 12.87 crore in 2024–25, with a temporary decline in 2023–24.

These funds support initiatives such as identification and assessment camps, provision of assistive devices, transport and escort allowances, home-based education for children with severe disabilities, training and salaries of special educators, and the creation of barrier-free school infrastructure.