The objective of the EW league table ranking the countrys most respected special needs schools is to enable parents to make informed choices, as also to acknowledge the country’s pioneer institutions in this important category Although your editors introduced the parameter of special needs education in the annual EW India School Rankings to encourage mainstream schools to provide for children with special needs (CWSN) way back in 2011, in response to parental pressure, last year we introduced a separate league table ranking the country’s most admired special needs schools. Even though an estimated 2 percent of India’s 480 million children aged below 18 years suffer from physical disabilities, mental retardation and learning disabilities, a minuscule 0.89 percent (12,868) of India’s 1.4 million primary-secondaries provide education to CWSN, according to Elementary Education in India 2014-15, published by the Delhi-based National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA). Against this depressing backdrop, the objective of the EW league table ranking the country’s most respected special needs schools is to enable parents to make informed choices as also to acknowledge the nations pioneer special needs schools. To compile the second EW Special Needs Schools Rankings 2016, C fore field researchers interviewed 253 knowledgeable respondents including parents and special educators in four cities. The schools were rated on ten parameters: teacher welfare and development, competence of faculty, quality of programme, rehabilitation, co-curricular education, individual attention to students, leadership/management quality, safety and hygiene, infrastructure provision and value for money. The #1 slot in the EW Special Needs Schools Rankings 2016 is retained by the Tamana Autism Centre — School of Hope, Delhi (estb.1992), which has an enrolment of 571 children, and is awarded top ratings on five parameters (teacher welfare and development; competence of faculty; quality of programme; leadership/management quality; infrastructure provision). The second and third rankings are awarded to New Delhi-based Amar Jyoti (estb.1981) and Asha Kiran Special Needs School, Bangalore (estb.1993) for the second consecutive year. Comments Dr. Shayama Chona, former principal of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram (Delhi) where she served for 35 years (1978-2009), and founder-president of Tamana: “A national league table recognising the dedicated work being done by the country’s best special needs schools will serve as an inspiration to individuals and organisations aspiring to promote similar institutions. For Tamana’s teachers, students and parents, the #1 ranking is a morale booster. It motivates us to continue our mission of providing the most enabling environment for special needs children. Our excellent reputation has been built by our team of highly qualified educators who use latest pedagogies and technology to harness the full potential of students with disabilities. Students from SAARC countries and even from the US are with us in Tamana, while several special educators from Asian countries come here for training”, says Chona. The Top 5 table in this category is completed by the recently promoted The Aditya Birla Integrated School (TABIS), Mumbai, ranked #4 nationally (6 in 2015) and the S.P.J. Sadhana School, Mumbai #5 (4). “Our improved ranking…
