MONTESSORI AS AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH (Pages 43-50) by Ms. Shashi Rekha Munireddy in THE ENGLISH INDIA / ISSN: 2321-1172 (Online); 2347-2634 (Print)

Ever since the declaration of Universal Human Rights by UN, education has been the fundamental right of every human being, irrespective of caste, gender, color and religious belief (1948) and schools have been opened for all the children. However, the differently-abled children (DAC) were not included in this lot and had a separate special educational set up (Sanjeev & Kumar, 2007, p. 2). It was only after the United Nation’s declaration on the rights of disabled persons (1975) that the inclusive education has taken a momentum, and schools have become more child friendly catering to the needs of all, and providing admission to all for the children such as children with special needs, disabilities or health impairments; the children affected by abuse, discrimination, exploitation, war or natural disaster; orphans and children affected by HIV and AIDS; minority children, the children living in rural areas and urban slums; and girls” (UNICEF, 2009). The concept of inclusive education is not new to Montessori. In fact, Montessori started her work with differently abled children (DAC), and showed how they could excel the normal children with appropriate assistance. Although, later on, Maria Montessori worked with normal children, her methods have been used in special schools all over the world. The current article envisages Montessori Method as an appropriate approach for the Inclusive education and estimates the probable challenges.children such as children with special needs, disabilities or health impairments; the children affected by abuse, discrimination, exploitation, war or natural disaster; orphans and children affected by HIV and AIDS; minority children, the children living in rural areas and urban slums; and girls” (UNICEF, 2009). The concept of inclusive education is not new to Montessori. In fact, Montessori started her work with differently abled children (DAC), and showed how they could excel the normal children with appropriate assistance. Although, later on, Maria Montessori worked with normal children, her methods have been used in special schools all over the world. The current article envisages Montessori Method as an appropriate approach for the Inclusive education and estimates the probable challenges.Keywords: Inclusive education, inclusiveness in Montessori, Montessori in inclusive education.