DISHA Curriculum Becomes Compulsory in Odisha Special Schools for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

06 Aug 2026, 09:07 by Vinay Kakkad · KalingaTV

The Odisha government has made the DISHA curriculum compulsory for all special schools catering to children with intellectual disabilities, a move aimed at standardising learning outcomes and ensuring uniform educational practices across the state’s special education system. The decision is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of education and rehabilitation services for children with intellectual disabilities through a structured and outcome-based curriculum.

Under the new framework, every recognised special school serving children with intellectual disabilities will be required to implement the DISHA curriculum. The curriculum has been designed to provide a common academic and developmental framework while addressing the diverse learning needs of students through age-appropriate and ability-based educational planning.

The initiative is intended to bring consistency to teaching practices across institutions and establish a uniform system for monitoring the educational progress of children with intellectual disabilities. Authorities believe the curriculum will help ensure that students, irrespective of where they study in Odisha, receive comparable learning opportunities supported by structured instructional methods.

The government also plans to strengthen classroom implementation by equipping schools with standardised teaching resources, including teacher handbooks and student workbooks aligned with the DISHA curriculum. Schools will be expected to follow prescribed learning standards and assessment methods to evaluate individual student progress in a systematic manner.

Officials said the curriculum emphasises not only academics but also life skills, functional learning and vocational preparedness, enabling children with intellectual disabilities to develop greater independence and social participation. The framework supports individualised educational planning while maintaining common benchmarks for learning and development across institutions.

Implementation of the curriculum will be supported through teacher training and capacity-building initiatives so that educators are equipped to deliver the programme effectively. Student progress will be monitored periodically using structured assessment tools, allowing schools to track developmental milestones and tailor interventions to individual needs.

The move aligns with Odisha’s regulatory framework for special schools, under which the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department is empowered to prescribe curricula for institutions serving children with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities in accordance with minimum learning standards.

The decision also comes as the state continues efforts to strengthen oversight of special education institutions. Recently, the SSEPD Department directed district authorities to identify and regulate unrecognised special schools, making official recognition mandatory for institutions run by non-governmental organisations and warning that schools operating without the required approvals could face closure.