Basic Education is considered the right of every child in India. In last many years schools have refined and re-refined their Curriculum and techniques of education in such a way that no child lags behind.
The schools now discover the liking, inclination and IQ to bring out the best in every child.. and that’s how it should be too !!
In today’s time there are far more openings and choices for children than the staple Engineering or doctorate. This is because of the open mindedness of education system. It now prepares children to face challenges in any part of the world they go to.
To support the same and make the child ready to face the world “Introduction of foreign language” was added in the curriculum. Over the years the choice to learn a foreign language turned into a must.
Earlier Sanskrit was introduced as a third language which was later made compulsory but there on foreign languages like Russian, Japanese, French, German etc were also introduced. Students were encouraged to learn the language first to break any barrier of adjustment.
Apart from this schools also teach computer languages like java, pascal, c++ etc Indicating that we not only need to break the barriers of communication with humans but also with machines.
We have now learned to speak to people who cannot speak our language and also learned to communicate with machines but how many of us know how to communicate with those who cannot speak at all.
Neither are they foreigners nor aliens nor machines, yet we cannot communicate with them because we have never bothered to learn their language- The Sign language.
We are comfortable to ignore this most important language that each one of us should be taught.
Because of our ignorance, we have restricted the people with hearing disability to a community of their own. They are intelligent, friendly, willing to learn and seek a job but just because we do not know how to communicate with them we tend to ignore or avoid being around them.
Shouldn’t sign language be also introduced as a choice of language to be learnt at school.
If not all, atleast some students would opt for it, if-not many maybe a few, just a handful may learn.
At the same time It should be made compulsory to learn few basic signs like how are you, do you need help, smile please, etc… From the very beginning of students life at school.
I see a future .. everyone communicating with those who cannot speak-but carry the same emotions, no unemployment for them not because they do-not qualify for the job but because we do-not qualify to hire them.
The government has already started sensitizing with their problems and has build disable friendly railway stations, malls etc but what about their adaptability in all respects.
My Ernest appeal to the people concerned
