NCERT to Make Textbook Available in Indian Sign Language
A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to
The ISLRTC is an institute of which is dedicated to the task of developing the use of Indian Sign Language, teaching, and conducting research in Indian Sign Language. NCERT is an organization responsible for ensuring improvement in school education by doing research in areas related to school education. They also publish textbooks and other educational books. A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 6th October 2020, between the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
As part of this MoU, educational print materials such as NCERT Textbooks, Teachers Handbook, and other Supplementary materials and resources of Class I-XII of all subjects of both Hindi and English Medium will be converted into Indian Sign Language in Digital format. This MoU will be signed in the virtually Thaawarchand Gehlot - Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank - Union Minister for Education, Shakuntala Doley Gamlin - Secretary, DEPwD and Anita Karwal, Secretary (SE&L), Ministry of Education. Thaawarchand Gehlot held a press conference after the virtual signing of the MoU. At the press conference, there was an interpreter present to provide accessibility to the Deaf Community.
The signing of this MoU is a very big step as the availability of NCERT textbooks in Indian Sign Language will ensure that deaf children have access to educational resources in Indian Sign Language and it will be useful for deaf students, teachers, parents, and the deaf community. This will also ensure the educational standardization of Indian Sign Language as mandated in the New Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
