What’s remedial training? Goals and challenges
Remedial education, also known as developmental or compensatory education, is a type of education designed to help children achieve their expected level of proficiency in key academic skills such as reading and writing and arithmetic. In the truest sense of the word, “heal” means heal or repair. Similarly, curative education helps disadvantaged children or children with special needs to achieve the level of competence that is expected of them at their age. For the layperson, curative education is a way of bridging the gap between such children and their peers.
Difference between curative education and special education
Curative education is very often confused with special education, but the main difference between the two is that while special education focuses specifically on children with special educational needs, curative education can be designed for students with or without special educational needs.
Rishu Srivastava, a former Gandhi Fellow and currently Project Leader for Education and Research at the Shakti Foundation, explains, “The primary goal of tutoring is to help students, often children, who are underperforming in mainstream schools due to learning difficulties and developmental delays, disorders or disadvantaged family backgrounds in following the prescribed school curriculum, developing learning skills, preparing students for skills, taking intensive one-to-one classes in language and mathematics, and improving their overall academic performance. “
He explained curative education in the Indian context and stated: “The Indian education system judges the student on academic grades or grades, which often leads to the fact that arts and sports are ignored and the overall development is hampered. Therefore curative education plays a very important role in the development of the Indian educational landscape. “
He adds: “The current student-to-teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the world. This further increases the importance of curative education in India. Many state governments have recognized this and have implemented some exceptional educational programs such as the Balsakhi Remedial Education Program. The development of our education policy is an indicator that our policy takes the development of funding programs seriously. “
A survey by the National Bureau of Statistics found that the literacy rate among people aged 7 and over was lower in rural areas (73.5%) than in urban areas (87.7%). It is therefore essential to understand the differences between rural and urban curative education.
Mr Srivastava stated, “Rural demographics need more support with curative education as we are still grappling with cultural issues such as early marriage of a girl, livelihood issues and migration to urban areas. Even in rural areas, it is more difficult to find a qualified teacher who is expert in creating different learning experiences for students. This, coupled with a lack of consistency in lessons and the parents’ low motivation for tutoring, is proving to be a great challenge. “
Covid-19 has accelerated the pace of digitization in education. According to a recent UNESCO report, only 19% of schools across India have internet access.
Mr Srivastava added: “There is an urgent need to formulate an integrative digital education policy in order to implement the educational program across demographics. The shift towards digitization of education must also be supported by infrastructure reforms, support and training from the government.
(Story by Shaurya Chauhry)
Read: How to Use Differentiation to Help Children with Special Learning Needs feel included
Read: Understanding Dyslexia: How Parents and Teachers Can Help Dyslexic Children Learn
