'A Comparative Analysis Of Higher Education Prospects For Differently-Abled Students' (A Study of Hotel Management Institutes in India)

ABSTRACT

An inclusive higher education policy incorporated in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 based on SDG 4 "ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and supporting lifelong learning opportunities for everyone." This research work is a comparative analysis of the readiness of government and private hotel management institutes. For data National Council of Hotel Management colleges and top private hotel management colleges were approached. Descriptive statistics are used as a quantitative research tool. The case-study approach determines the relationship between known disabilities regarding the RPWD Act 2016. The study found that the RPWD ACT-2016 is familiar to the members of these inclusive institutes, and only a few have specially qualified faculty for such students. Also, research established Auxiliary departments as the most appropriate department for differently-abled students but not the core departments. Research limitations-The research period was between 'June 2020 to March 2021', during which many institutes were not operational due to the Covid-19 pandemics, so the response rate remains 50%. We tried to reach them over the phone, which was unsuccessful. More government-sponsored institutes should be accessible. At present, only 1/3 rd. of the total number has a provision for differently-abled students, which will not help in achieving U.N. SDG-4 goals of 100% accessibility by 2030 as targeted by the Government of India.