Admissions to BEd special education now through GU-Art

PANAJI: Admissions to the BEd special education programme, offered in support from the state government, will take place through the Goa University Admissions Ranking Test (GU-Art) from the academic year 2023-24, the varsity has announced. The programme is offered at the Dnyanvardhini Divyang Training College at Vasco.
Online applications to register for the GU-Art for the programme will be accepted up to May 2 and the GU-Art round will be held on May 13 at the university campus at Taleigao.
Any student with minimum 50% marks in the BA, BSc, BCom or in graduation in any discipline from a recognised Indian University or foreign university, recognised by Association of Indian Universities can apply for the BEd special education programme.
“The GU-ART will have one paper of 100 marks, containing 50 objective multiple-choice questions (MCQ) of 2 marks each. There shall be negative marking, where half a mark shall be deducted for each wrong answer. No marks shall be deducted for unanswered questions. The duration of the GU-ART shall be 90 minutes,” the university said.
Goa is among few states in the country to start offering a BEd programme in special education from the year 2021, supported by the government so students can pursue it at a subsidised fee.
As the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) begins in the country, the programme was offered to boost the setting up of resource rooms in regular schools, as required by the policy. The NEP mandates inclusion of special children in the mainstream through resource rooms in regular schools, and discourages segregated schools, unless in the case of those with acute disabilities.
The BEd in special education being offered in Goa is to equip teachers with training in teaching special children as well as regular children, while also preparing the trainees to promote inclusion.