By Priscilla Chung
In India, children with special educational needs can encounter barrier after barrier, until getting an education feels almost impossible.
Despite government policies promoting inclusion, most schools still prefer students who excel academically, leaving children with special educational needs overlooked by the education system. Families are left searching for schools where their children will not only be admitted but supported.
Santhosh’s story reflects this reality.
Santhosh is a child with delayed speech development, dyslexia, and difficulties with memory. For a long time, his parents were unaware that he required specialised support. Normally, children in India join lower kindergarten at the age of three, but due to his developmental challenges, his parents struggled to find a school that could nurture him, meaning he never attended kindergarten.
Referred by a neighbour, Santhosh’s family came to the HOPE foundation Nursery & Primary School in Pudupattinam. As a child enrolling for the first time at six years old, Santhosh needed time and patience. He was extremely withdrawn at first, avoiding interaction with others. For the first two years, he remained very quiet and rarely spoke. Entering directly into Grade 1 without any kindergarten experience meant he had to start from the beginning. It took time for him to feel safe and comfortable, especially in the classroom. But at a school willing to invest in him, he was given the chance to develop at his own pace, and things began to change.
His class teacher, Vanathi, played a key role in his journey. Through dedicated one-on-one attention, she helped Santhosh slowly build trust and confidence. Over time, he formed a close bond with her, one that gave him the confidence to begin expressing himself. And when he discovered his interest in drawing, he started to open up even more. He began to interact with his classmates and engage more in school activities, and even made a friends, which further supported his social development.
A personal and academic transformation
A particularly memorable moment came during the school’s annual day. In previous years, Santhosh was very hesitant to go on stage. But recently he stepped forward alongside his classmates and chose to participate in a dance performance, showing just how much his confidence has grown. As a heartfelt gesture reflecting the bond he shares with his teacher, Vanathi, Santhosh gave her a saree as a gift on Teacher’s Day. These are simple but powerful testaments to the impact of the care and encouragement he received.
Santhosh’s teacher, Vanathi, reflects on his journey: “When I first met Santhosh, he stayed close to his mother, very shy, fearful, and completely silent. His parents explained that he was a slow learner with difficulties in memory, social interaction, speaking, and writing. Over the past three years, it has been remarkable to witness his progress. I am very happy to share that he has successfully completed Grade 5 this year and has moved on to middle school. He is now able to read and write and has grown confident in speaking with his friends and expressing himself to his teachers. I wish him all the very best for his future.”
But stories like Santhosh’s are only possible with continued support.
By supporting programmes like this, we can ensure that more children are not left behind but are instead empowered to step forward with confidence, just like Santhosh.
For just £25, you can provide textbooks, notebooks and a school uniform for one student for a year at Pudupattinam HOPE foundation School, helping more children learn and thrive.
Give today to support the HOPE foundation and help provide education to children in Pudupattinam. Just click “Pudupattinam primary school in South India” in the dropdown menu.
