PRASHAST 2.0, an abbreviation for "Pre-Assessment Holistic Screening Tool," is an enhanced digital platform by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to ease the early detection of disabilities in school children.
Through a standardised, mobile- and web-based, easy-to-use checklist, it enables school teachers, principals and special educators to screen children with all 21 types of disabilities listed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
It facilitates the issuance of disability certificates and access to support services under the Samagra Shiksha program.
Prahast 2.0: Overview and Objectives
The PRASHAST 2.0 program is a vital element in India's inclusive education ecosystem, aimed at preventing any child with a disability from going unnoticed due to the absence of symptoms or screening tools.
This enhanced version, following the launch of the first iteration in 2022, streamlines reporting by teachers, principals and special educators, making it simpler and more user-friendly.
The aim of the tool is to build a seamless data ecosystem to support evidence-based policy-making and a culture of equity and inclusion in government, private and special schools.
Features and Functionality
The tool is a two-part screening tool, to suit the expertise of various school personnel.
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Part I is designed for mainstream teachers using objective-type items based on their observations of students' behavior and performance.
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Part II is meant for the school special educator, counselor, or school head to conduct a more specific secondary screening to supplement observations.
The app provides features such as integration with national data sources such as UDISE+ and APAAR ID and Swavlamban Card Portal to track enrolment, screening and intervention.
The app provides a standard report card at the school level, making it easier for authorities to document the process, which is needed to begin the formal certification process for Children with Special Needs (CWSN).
Alignment with National Education Policy
PRASHAST 2.0 is in line with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to provide quality education for all learners in India.
Through its uniform process of school-based disability identification and reporting, it helps address the disconnect between the classroom observation and formal assessment of disability to ensure timely interventions and appropriate educational adjustments. The app is an important step in digitalization of the support systems for education and is a building block towards an inclusive and responsive national school education system.
