On 6th October 2020, Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC) and The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) to convert the NCERT educational materials into Indian Sign Language (ISL). This ensures the accessibility of NCERT materials to the Indian students with hearing impairment in their preferred mode of communication(ISL).
The MoU was signed by Dr Prabodh Seth, Joint Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) & Director of ISLRTC and Prof. Hrushikesh Senapathy, Director of NCERT.
Key People:
The MoU was signed in the virtual presence of Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Education along with Shakuntala Doley Gamlin, Secretary of DEPwD and Anita Karwal, Secretary of the Department of School Education & Literacy(SE&L), Ministry of Education.
Note:
This MoU is based on the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF)‘s initiative “Accessible Digital Textbooks for All” and its decisions.
Features:
This conversion of NCERT materials into Indian sign language(ISL) ensures the educational standardisation of ISL ensured by the New Educational Policy 2020.
The materials converted into ISL in digital format includes NCERT Textbooks, teachers Handbook and Supplementary materials and resources for the students from class 1 to 12 for all subjects in both English and Hindi medium.
Benefits:
The conversion of materials will benefit the students with hearing impairments, teachers, teacher educators and parents.
Indian Sign Language(ISL):
Indian Sign Language(ISL) is the same across India which ensures the hearing impaired students across India will have access to the materials in a single language.
The ISL denotes unity which connects all the hearing impaired people across India.
Recent Related News:
i.On June 10,2020, In a big boost to the “Skill India” initiative of the Government of India (GoI), National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) works under the Ambit of Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) Nangal (Punjab) to train youths in 12 trades under Dual System of Training Scheme. With the signing of this MoU with ITI, NFL becomes first CPSE to take this initiative in the state of Punjab.
ii.Goa’s Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (DSDE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) for setting up a World-Class Skill Development Institute to provide Advanced Skills Training under “Skill India Mission”.
About Indian Sign Language Research and Training Center (ISLRTC):
ISLRTC is an autonomous national institute under the DEPwD of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Chairperson & Director– Prabodh Seth
Headquarters– New Delhi
About National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT):
NCERT is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education (formerly known as Ministry of Human Resource and Development(MHRD))
Director– Hrushikesh Senapathy
Headquarters– New Delhi
