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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher">BJCR</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title xml:lang="en">British Journal of Contemporary Research</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title xml:lang="en">BJCR</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn>2979-8582</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Bexford Publishing Ltd</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc><uri>https://bexfordpublishing.co.uk</uri></publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">BEX_OCT_26_131</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.67693/BJCR-5S6VC4VJ</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group xml:lang="en" subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Review Article</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Beyond Access: Specific Learning Disability, Muslim Students, and Educational Equity in Indian Higher Education</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group content-type="author">
      <contrib corresp="yes">
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Ikhlas Ahmad</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>ikhlas.edu.2022@bhu.ac.in</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>Faculty of Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Mohammad Zafar Ayat</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>zafar.jmi100@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>ORCID: 0009-0002-1539-3460 | Department of Management Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Rabiya Khatoon</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>rabiya8592@gmail.com</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>ORCID: 0009-0000-7991-665X | Department of Electronics &amp; Communication, I.T.M., Gorakhpur, India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Alok Gardia</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>alok.edu@bhu.ac.in</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>ORCID: 009-0005-6982-7203 | Faculty of Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      <contrib>
        <name-alternatives>
          <name name-style="western" specific-use="primary">
            <given-names>Deepa Mehta</given-names>
          </name>
        </name-alternatives>
        <email>deepamehta@bhu.ac.in</email>
        <bio xml:lang="en"><p>ORCID: 0009-0006-7040-3528 | Faculty of Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India</p></bio>
      </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="epub">
        <day>10</day>
        <month>11</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>1</volume>
      <issue>6</issue>
      
      
      <pub-history>
        <event event-type="received">
          <event-desc>Received: <date date-type="received">
            <day>15</day>
            <month>10</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
        
        <event event-type="accepted">
          <event-desc>Accepted: <date date-type="accepted">
            <day>21</day>
            <month>10</month>
            <year>2026</year>
          </date></event-desc>
        </event>
      </pub-history>
      <permissions>
        <copyright-statement>Copyright (c) 2026 Ikhlas Ahmad</copyright-statement>
        <copyright-year>2026</copyright-year>
        <license xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract><p>Specific Learning Disability (SLD) is increasingly understood as an issue of educational equity rather than merely an individual academic difficulty. In India, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, recognizes SLD and provides for inclusive education, reasonable accommodation, and appropriate academic support. Muslim educational participation has been shaped by socio-economic disadvantage, unequal institutional opportunities, and regional disparities. This article examines the intersection of minority status and learning disability through secondary data analysis and policy review. The study draws on the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), Census of India, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, RPwD Act, University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, and relevant peer-reviewed literature. The review identifies persistent challenges, including delayed diagnosis, stigma, limited disclosure, inaccessible assessment practices, inadequate faculty awareness, and fragmented institutional support. Although AISHE data indicate growth in Muslim higher-education enrollment, UDISE+ data reveal declining Muslim representation between primary and higher-secondary education. These trends do not establish a causal relationship between minority status and disability or indicate higher SLD prevalence among Muslims. Instead, they highlight the need to address overlapping educational barriers. The article proposes an integrated framework encompassing minority inclusion, disability rights, reasonable accommodation, inclusive pedagogy, mentoring, assistive technology, grievance redressal, and institutional monitoring. It argues that educational equity requires institutions to move beyond admission and ensure meaningful participation, progression, achievement, and the fulfillment of educational aspirations.</p></abstract>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
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