The ‘CHALK 2026′ State-Level Teachers’ Conference was successfully organized in Kochi, aiming to strengthen inclusive education methods that bring together children of all abilities in classrooms. The event was jointly organized by Prayatna Child Development Centre and Jain Deemed-to-be University, Kochi, with support and collaboration from the Institute for Autism and Behavioral Therapy and the Bridge Beyond Foundation. Held at the Jain University campus in Kochi, the event witnessed large-scale participation from teachers, academicians, parents, and students from various parts of Kerala and outside the state.
The conference was officially inaugurated by Uma Thomas MLA, who highlighted the crucial role of educators. She stated that after parents, teachers are the first to recognize learning disabilities in children. Therefore, she praised this initiative for equipping and empowering teachers to identify and support such students effectively within the classroom environment.
The event also featured an award ceremony honoring institutions and educators who have shown exemplary commitment to inclusive practices. Caterpillars Pre-School was selected as the Best Inclusive Pre-School, while Cochin International School won the award for the Best Inclusive School, and Jain Deemed-to-be University secured the honor for the Best Inclusive College. Additionally, Sheeja Ajayan from Spells and Stories was honored as the Best Inclusive Pre-School Teacher, and Nadia Jose from St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School received the award for the Best Inclusive Upper Primary School Teacher.
Over the past year, Prayatna has conducted extensive awareness campaigns across nearly 170 schools to identify children with diverse abilities, noted Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnassery, Founder and Chairman of Prayatna. He added that the CHALK program serves as a continuation of these efforts, giving teachers the full confidence to identify children’s special needs and seamlessly connect parents with the right experts.
