The Indian sign language or ISL has found a way to the school curriculum in Assam. Isl was offered as one Optional subject for the 11th grade through the Assam State School Education Board (Asseb). This marks a step towards inclusiveness within the school curriculum. Together with artificial intelligence and financial competence, the students can take over ISL from the academic year 2025-26. The move aims to promote inclination and empathy and will equip the students with quality of life. The Minister of Education of the State, Dr. Ranoj Pegu, emphasized the need to hear voices from all parts of society. The elective subject will be the same with any other discipline.
The Indian sign language has the ability to mark the beginning of our Tryste with inclination in classrooms. Speech or signed conversation, convey the similar meanings and even if a fraction of the population can sign, the variety of the voices is unprecedented.
Source: Canva
A study In 2024 in 2024, published the limited possibilities that are available for hearing -impaired students. The classrooms are not only lacking infrastructural support, but also qualified specialists that can help the students. Traditional teaching methods are mainly based on spoken commands and verbal communication, which essentially difficult to exchange dialogues in the classroom. If the space for hearing -impaired students does not porous, learning takes up a back seat. The study focused on the Tinsukia district in Assam and a randomized sample of 60 students. 65% of the students emphasized learning difficulties, since no visual help such as graphics, cake charts, etc. etc. were highlighted. The survey also emphasized that 65% of the respondents were firmly convinced that including teaching practices, learning in the classroom did not hinder learning. The state government of Assam ensured this Training materials were developed and asked the schools to report and give the students the opportunity to pursue the choice.
Why is Indian sign language (ISL) necessary in schools?
The Rights of people with disabilities from 2016 It is clearly stated that the education that is to be conveyed to those who are heard -damaged should be carried out in an “reasonable language”. It also means how television programs should also be associated with signal language interpretation. Very few or no channels ensure the same. Therefore, the constitutional advantages still have to recognize the light of the day. The lack of accessible education for the hearing impaired audio base is also based on the fundamental right to education for children up to the age of 14. Without the possibility of all-inclusive training, the fundamental right will be intervened. Hence after the Rights of people with disabilities from 2016Every child with a benchmark disability is entitled to free education from 6 to 18 years in a school of their choice. The most recent census of India was carried out in 2011. The marked census 7.1 million people With “hearing and voice disability”. ISL will then become a constitutional law.
On the other hand the Indian national association of the deaf Estimated a population of 18 million people who were deaf in 2018. This corresponds to approximately 1% of the population. If integrative pedagogical methods are not brought in, 1% of the population are deprived of the advantages to which they are justified. The introduction of ISL into the national curriculum will break the continuing communication barriers and give the students the opportunity to express themselves freely.
Marginalization of the DHH individuals (deaf and difficult hearing)
A Opinion poll In the UK, the stigma and marginalization of deaf people and those affected by hearing loss. According to the survey, 67% of the population were exposed to “negative attitudes” by the public. Similarly, almost half of them have reported negative experiences of their own family members. Impatient and loud shouting were reported by 47% of the participants who have undertaken the survey. The negative settings lead to feelings of isolation, exclusion, loneliness and disrespect. Therefore, it not only helps to pave the way for a more integrative public space with the ISL with the ISL, but also to reduce the feeling of isolationism and loneliness.
Source: Canva
In India one of the big challenges In view of the hearing impaired people, the tradition of “oralist” teaching is in schools. Here in schools for students who are hard of hearing are used in schools that are difficult. The sign language was first avoided because it was a visible marker for ‘numbness’. The visibility comes with stigmatization because the properties can be felt. During this train of thoughts left the train station because of the Resistance Verbal communication is still available in the deaf community in India in some schools.
It is not due to the DHH community to educate the general public. State welfare policy is useful here. The introduction of Indian sign language by Assam as an academic discipline helps to dispel the stigmatized status. The guideline will not only introduce the students in ISL, but will also generate empathy for the community, which promotes joint discussions.
In Great BritainIt has been reported that students who are hard of hearing often receive a lower GCSE grade, since the sign language is not sufficiently supported.
In Great BritainIt has been reported that students who are hard of hearing often receive a lower GCSE grade, since the sign language is not sufficiently supported. They also believe that the teaching of sign language generally benefits the development of the pupils.
It is crucial to understand that hearing people and deaf do not always have similar psychological health struggles. The availability ofResources for mental health Because the deaf community is scarce in India. ISL in the curriculum promotes the strengthening of relationships and supporting the peers.
Political recommendations and the way forward
With less than 300 ISL-certified interpreterIt is important that we create the opportunity to take ISL as a professional course. TV programs such as news, entertainment, etc. need ISL interpreters to access DHH persons to similar materials such as hired sons. This brings the access to information barriers and provides freely flowing information for DHH people. When 90% Deaf children are born to listen to parents. It is important that parents learn Isl. If the curriculum framework is introduced, the communication gap between the children and their parents can be bridged.
Source: Canva
There is a need to make Isl standardized. British or American sign languages are taught in some places, depending on who it introduced. Classrooms should be designed in such a way that an egalitarian seat arrangement promotes in a theatrical environment. In this way, the students can look at the educator or the teaching materials from all perspectives. Inclusive is an ongoing process. You can’t stop when introducing a guideline. The proper implementation and regular checks are the way to ensure an obstacle -free.
Therefore, it is not sufficient to introduce ISL as election promotion. In BangaloreThe pupils had protests due to lack of teachers and their inability to vote autonomously. Schools have often refused to offer a subject because some students choose it. If teachers were not trained before ISL was introduced, a similar situation is revealed. The schools hesitate to offer ISL if the students are not willing to accept it. In the future, the government should actively connect ISL with increased employment opportunities if they want to keep students. If not, the guideline remains with a negligible implementation on paper.
Soumili is an independent researcher and has completed her reference to sociology at Jadavpur University. Your interest is to study the experiences of queer people in India.