MoU Inked Between ISLRTC-NCERT For Converting Educational Materials In To Indian Sign Language

NEW DELHI || A historic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center-ISLRTC (a National Institute of DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment) and NCERT (a National Institute of Ministry of Education) to make education materials accessible for deaf children in their preferred format of communication viz Indian Sign Language.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said the MoU between NCERT and ISRTC is not only a cooperation pact between the two institutions, but it is also a step towards better coordination between the two ministries, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Through this MoU, we are moving towards realizing the provisions mentioned in the Right to Education (RTE) 2009, and the Rights of Persons with Disability Act (RPWD) 2016 and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, such as the use of appropriate and alternative means of communication, in which Sign Language has an important place, Nishank added.

The MoU will make available NCERT textbooks in Indian Sign Language (ISL) will ensure that hearing impaired children can also now access educational resources in Indian Sign Language and it will be a useful and much needed resource for Hearing Impaired students, teachers, teacher educators, parents and the hearing impaired community, which in turn will have a huge impact on the education of Hearing Impaired children in the country.

After this MoU, NCERT educational books and materials will be available in Indian Sign language which is same all over India, which means all hearing impaired students of India whether from East or West or North or South, they all will read NCERT books in a single language i.e. Indian Sign Language. Indian Sign Language denotes Unity in Diversity which is explained through Hands and understood through Eyes and it connects all hearing impaired people of our country all together.

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.