A significant directive from the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities mandates NCERT to convert textbooks for all grades into Indian Sign Language within three months. Education boards are also urged to introduce ISL as a standalone subject from Class 1 to university level, addressing a critical gap for hearing-impaired students and promoting inclusive education. NEW DELHI: The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has asked NCERT — in coordination with Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, National Institute of Open Schooling and CBSE — to ensure conversion of textbooks for classes 1-12 into Indian Sign Language (ISL) within three months.CCPD also recommended that all central and state education boards, including CBSE, must immediately incorporate ISL as a standalone language subject from classes 1 to 12. “ISL must also be offered as a literature subject at the university level, on par with other Indian languages,” it said.In an order issued on October 16, chief commissioner Rajesh Aggarwal has sought an action taken report ministries concerned, institutions and state govts within three months.The directions come in a case where CCPD took suo motu cognisance regarding acute shortage of adequate govt-recognised sign language interpreters in both inclusive and special schools.It highlighted that this gap, resulting from shortage of interpreters, disproportionately affects children with hearing impairments — who represent about 20% of the disabled population between ages six and 20 — leading to high dropout rates and a loss of national potential.“Despite the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandating the standardisation of ISL, development of curriculum resources, and its use as a medium of instruction, implementation remains limited. The policy also tasks the National Institute of Open Schooling with developing quality ISL modules, yet these measures were seen to have made little progress,” CCPD said. It said NCERT too is yet to complete the process of converting educational material into ISL.In addition, even with specialised programmes like Diploma in Education (Hearing Impairment) offered by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)-recognised institutions, there has been negligible recruitment of hearing-impaired teachers. “These persistent gaps underscore the need for urgent systemic reforms to ensure equitable and inclusive education for students with hearing impairments,” CCPD said.In this backdrop, CCPD has also recommended that RCI and ISLRTC must ensure an immediate upscaling of existing courses for interpreters and state govts must appoint a minimum number of sign language interpreters in all inclusive and special schools based on a student-teacher ratio.The National Council for Teacher Education, in consultation with RCI, has been asked to revise its norms to mandate the inclusion of ISL training in B.Ed. and D.Ed.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosHasina Verdict Sparks Outrage as Ex-Indian Envoy Questions Evidence and Awami League Cries Black DayPak Army Chief Asim Munir Vows ‘Strong Response’, Army Chief Dwivedi Warns Op Sindoor Was A TrailerPM Modi Condoles Families as 45 Indians Feared Dead in Saudi Bus CrashOusted Bangladesh PM Hasina Calls ICT’s Death Sentence ‘Rigged’, Says It Denied Fair Trial RightsFrench Consulate Staffer Molested In Bandra As Mumbai Police Launch Rapid Hunt To Track The SuspectAfter 5th August 2019…’ Army Chief Counters Mehbooba’s Charge Against Centre Over J&K SituationChennai Gripped By Panic As Bomb Threats Target MK Stalin, Ajith Kumar, Top Tamil Nadu Personalities’Snow Must Melt’: Army Chief Dwivedi Details How India China Relations Shifted After 2024 TalksIndia Sends Strong Warning To Pakistan As Army Chief Says The Real Movie Begins After Op SindoorBangladesh On Edge: Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Rejects Evidence, Son Issues Threat Before Tribunal Verdict123PhotostoriesBharti Singh gets emotional as she gets a surprise baby shower from Laughter Chefs team; friends Krushna Abhishek, Tejasswi Prakash, Jannat Zubair and others attend the bash8 easy exercises to increase your child’s height10 cities in the US where rent is below $1,0005 quiet habits of partners who deeply trust each other9 street foods to enjoy in Amritsar during winterHow to grow karela (bitter gourd) from seeds at home in your balcony7 foods that kids love but they slowly damage their teethHow rejected roles in ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, ‘DDLJ’ and ‘Barfi’ made Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone unforgettable2025 Tata Sierra: Design, features, specs explained in imagesInside Bhopal’s 600-acre Ijtema: 7 lakh devotees, 300 nikahs, 240 food stalls123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodaySheikh Hasina VerdictBihar Government FormationGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingKayla NicoleAaron Rodgers InjuryShedeur SandersDubai Prince Sheikh Hamdan Net WorthRohini AcharyaDraymond GreenLebron JamesPaige GrecoZelina VegaCharlie Mcavoy Injury
NEW DELHI: The Court of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) has asked NCERT — in coordination with Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, National Institute of Open Schooling and CBSE — to ensure conversion of textbooks for classes 1-12 into Indian Sign Language (ISL) within three months.CCPD also recommended that all central and state education boards, including CBSE, must immediately incorporate ISL as a standalone language subject from classes 1 to 12. “ISL must also be offered as a literature subject at the university level, on par with other Indian languages,” it said.In an order issued on October 16, chief commissioner Rajesh Aggarwal has sought an action taken report ministries concerned, institutions and state govts within three months.The directions come in a case where CCPD took suo motu cognisance regarding acute shortage of adequate govt-recognised sign language interpreters in both inclusive and special schools.It highlighted that this gap, resulting from shortage of interpreters, disproportionately affects children with hearing impairments — who represent about 20% of the disabled population between ages six and 20 — leading to high dropout rates and a loss of national potential.“Despite the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 mandating the standardisation of ISL, development of curriculum resources, and its use as a medium of instruction, implementation remains limited. The policy also tasks the National Institute of Open Schooling with developing quality ISL modules, yet these measures were seen to have made little progress,” CCPD said. It said NCERT too is yet to complete the process of converting educational material into ISL.In addition, even with specialised programmes like Diploma in Education (Hearing Impairment) offered by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)-recognised institutions, there has been negligible recruitment of hearing-impaired teachers. “These persistent gaps underscore the need for urgent systemic reforms to ensure equitable and inclusive education for students with hearing impairments,” CCPD said.In this backdrop, CCPD has also recommended that RCI and ISLRTC must ensure an immediate upscaling of existing courses for interpreters and state govts must appoint a minimum number of sign language interpreters in all inclusive and special schools based on a student-teacher ratio.The National Council for Teacher Education, in consultation with RCI, has been asked to revise its norms to mandate the inclusion of ISL training in B.Ed. and D.Ed.
