Nagaland’s Kopele Tepa honoured for dedication to inclusive education

September 21, 2023 49 Views No Comment

Wins NCPEDP-Mphasis Awards 2023 in Working Professionals category

Kohima, September 21 (MExN): Kopele V Tepa, the founder of Bumblebee Inclusive School in Kohima, is one of the recipients of the 14th NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Award 2023 in the category of Working Professionals for her ‘outstanding dedication to inclusive education.’

As a Special Educator and the proprietor of Bumblebee, Tepa has dedicated her career to advocating for the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream education, the NCPEDP stated in a press release.

For 16 years, she has been relentless in her pursuit of a passion she nurtured since childhood and in a world where every child deserves a chance to thrive and lead a fulfilling life, she stands out as a remarkable champion of inclusion, it added.

As per the NCPEDP, Tepa’s journey in the field of special education began in 2007, and since then, she has been dedicatedly promoting inclusion for children with disabilities in schools.

In 2012, she founded Bumblebee Inclusive School, which has become one of Nagaland’s pioneering inclusive institutions.

The school now boasts of a team of 13 dedicated educators and accommodates 98 students, with continuous growth on the horizon, the Centre informed.

“The school aspires to serve as a knowledge hub for educators and professionals working with individuals with disabilities while fostering the concept of inclusion in the wider community, Tepa said.

“Awareness alone is insufficient to promote inclusion; it must be ingrained and exemplified from a young age.”

The school provides a barrier-free learning environment, inspiring all children to become advocates of inclusivity while a Remedial Centre offers after-school classes for students with disabilities from various schools.

The NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards is not only a well-deserved recognition of Tepa’s remarkable contributions but also a testament to her exceptional efforts in promoting inclusive education, the release added.

It further expressed hope that with the award, Tepa’s legacy of inclusion continues to inspire others to break down barriers and pave the way for a more inclusive future, where every child, regardless of their abilities, can lead a fulfilling and productive life.

The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) is a cross-disability non-profit organisation working with a range of stakeholders and among others, to advocate for the rights of persons with disability along with encouraging their employment; increasing public awareness; creating and disseminating knowledge.