The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has signed an agreement with the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) on Tuesday to make textbooks and other educational material available for deaf children in sign language. As a part of the agreement, it will be converted into digital format.
Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said, "The availability of NCERT textbooks in Indian Sign Language (ISL) will ensure that hearing-impaired children can also now access educational resources and it will be a useful and much-needed resource for teachers, teacher educators, parents and the hearing-impaired community.”
The official said that it is necessary to provide children with educational material in accordance with their learning needs while they are still in their childhood because the cognitive skills of children are developed in that stage of growing.
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"So far, hearing-impaired children used to study only through a verbal or written medium but after the signing of this MoU, they can study through a single Indian Sign Language also. It will not only enhance their vocabulary but also enhance their capabilities to understand concepts," Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin said.
The ISLRTC is an autonomous national institute of the social justice and empowerment ministry, dedicated in the development of manpower by popularising the use of Indian Sign Language, teaching and conducting research. The agreement was signed in the virtual presence of Mr Gehlot and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank'.