Chandigarh, Oct. 21 -- For the 3,185 children with special needs enrolled in UT's government schools, there are only 97 special educators available against a sanctioned strength of 122 - figures which showcase the abysmal state of affairs when it comes to providing an equal chance of a dignified life for these students.

For perspective, the recommended teacher-student ratio at the primary level with regards to special children's education is 1: 10 while at the secondary or middle-school level, it is 1:15. To put it simply, each teacher is to be responsible for only 10 special students at the primary level, and 15 at the secondary level. But given the current strength, each special educator in UT is responsible for an average of 32 studen...