Making inclusive education a reality requires a collective, multi-sector effort involving government agencies, civil society organisations and private institutions, said Sri Aurobindo Society (SAS) Chief Human Resource Officer and Chief Programme Officer Simmi Mahajan on Wednesday.

She was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day roundtable jointly organised by SAS and Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada, with the support of the State Department of School Education and Higher Education. The event aims to develop a roadmap for strengthening inclusive education across Andhra Pradesh.

Delivering the keynote address, noted inclusive education expert Ram Kamal said emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Reality and Neurobiological Connectivity would transform education by 2030. He said the distinction between typical and atypical learners would gradually fade, paving the way for new pedagogies and neurodiversity-friendly schools.

Experts, educators, policymakers and representatives of civil society organisations emphasised the need for a continuous support system for persons with disabilities, from early childhood through higher education and employment, at the session themed “Realising Inclusive Education from School to University”.

Deliberations on the first day identified four key priorities: fostering a positive mindset towards inclusion, ensuring equal participation of students with disabilities in mainstream education, integrating assistive and AI-enabled technologies into learning, and strengthening collaboration among government departments, educational institutions, industry, NGOs and CSR partners.

Participants unanimously stressed that inclusive education requires coordinated action and sustained commitment to ensure that no learner is left behind.

Andhra Loyola College Principal Fr. S. Melchior reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to inclusive education. Coordinator of the Higher Education for Persons with Special Needs (HEPSN) programme at the college, G. Sahaya Baskaran, and others were present.