Ever since the United Nations declared 23rd September as the International Day of Sign Languages, the ISLRTC celebrates it every year on 23rd September. On the occasion, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhoumik launched an app sign learn-  an Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary mobile application containing 10,000 words.

Sign Learn is based on the Indian sign language dictionary of the Indian Sign Language Research And Training Centre (ISLRTC) which contains 10,000 words. The app is available in Android as well as iOS versions. Officials said, “All the words in the ISL dictionary can be searched through Hindi or English medium. The sign videos of the app can also be shared on social media.

According to an official statement, “ISLRTC had signed an MoU with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on 06th October 2020 for converting NCERT textbooks from Class I to XII into Indian Sign Language (digital format) to make the textbooks accessible to children with hearing disabilities. This year ISL e-content of NCERT textbooks of class VI was launched.

With the joint effort of ISLRTC and NCERT, a total of 500 academic words in Indian Sign Language were launched. These 500 academic words are words used at the secondary level, which are often used in history, science, political science, mathematics, officials added.

 “Creativity is connecting dots of knowledge. Our aim should be to become a creative thinker with some nonlinear expertise and to reach out to connect the dots,” Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. IRIS National Fair was held virtually this year and saw participation from more than 65,000 students and science enthusiasts, judged under 21 Categories.

IRIS National Fair’ is a program of EXSTEMPLAR Education Linkers Foundation; funded by Broadcom and supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. School students based in India in the age group 10 to 17 with innovative projects can participate in it responding to invitations for applications.                                

IRIS aligns with 5 national level mega-fairs – National Children Science Congress (NCSC); Science Fair by National Council of Science Museums (NCSM); Jawaharlal Nehru Science Fair by National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT); Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Science Exhibition; Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) awards program.

See the full list of Regeneron ISEF Grand Awards

New Changes in Calendar

The Union Education Minister tweeted that this calendar is useful for all people with disabilities, children with special needs. Links to audiobooks, video programs, etc. are also included. In fact, the Central Human Resource Development Department (MHRD) along with NCERT released the alternative academic calendar to compensate for the loss of education to children during the lockdown.

The NCERT prepared this calendar with a study plan for the next four weeks. According to the released calendar, the number of weeks, topics, and how to teach a topic by using tools and techniques are given.  Apart from this, what activities can children do at home during the lockdown and how can they reduce mental stress is also informed.