NCERT and ISLRTC to sign MoU to help deaf children access education material

On October 6, 2020, the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) and Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make the education material accessible to the deaf children.

Highlights

Under the MoU, educational print materials, teachers’ handbook, supplementary materials and NCERT Textbooks are to be converted into sign language in digital format. Apart from these other supplementary materials and all the other resources of Class I-XII of all subjects of both Hindi and English medium are to be converted.

The step is a part of the mandate of New Education Policy, 2020. The policy claimed to standardize Indian Sign Language. It will enhance the literary skills of the deaf children greatly.

GoI measures

The GoI has been taking several measures recently to help the deaf people. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment recently launched the second edition of Indian Sign Language Dictionary. The dictionary was developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre. IT includes 6000 words under categories such as legal, academic, medical, every day terms and technical. The dictionary is available in both video and printed formats.

Census 2011

According to Census 2011, around 18.9% of the Indian population is deaf.

International Day of Sign Languages

It is celebrated on September 23 every year. This is because the World Federation of the Deaf was formed on September 23.

World Federation of Deaf

It is an NGO and acts as a peak body for the National associations of deaf people spread all over the world. The World Congress organised by the World Federation of the Deaf is held every four years.

The organization aims to improve the status of national sign languages, improve access to information and services and promote establishment of deaf organizations. The National Association of the Deaf, India is associated with the World Federation of Deaf.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020