Braille made compulsory for BEd curriculum
Priya Ramakrishnan
Wednesday, December 03, 2008 03:49 IST
Visually challenged students will now have a reason to smile, thanks
to the University
Grants Commission (UGC), which has made Braille a compulsory subject
for the BEd
curriculum, thereby helping students who study in regular schools
under the system
of Integrated Education System.
The National Association for the Blind (NAB), which supports students
studying under
the Integrated Education System, welcomed the move. NAB director K
Ramakrishnan said,
"As part of inclusive education, the teachers at regular schools will
have to teach
the visually impaired children too. Since these students understand
Braille as a
medium of communication, it is mandatory that the teacher should have
good understanding
of Braille."
The move will benefit those children who are now enrolled in regular
schools and
find it hard to cope with studies without their teachers knowing
Braille. This is
one of the first moves to promote inclusive education system, which
emphasises on
disabled students studying along with regular children. "This
initiative will provide
opportunities for special children to be included in the general
education system,"
said Pallavi Shankar, supervisor of Integrated Education Scheme.
However, the change will be applicable only from the next academic
year. But principal
of Aishabai College of Education, Arundhati Chavan is unsure whether
Braille can
be included in the curriculum by the next academic year. "We have not
been sent any
circular, but the initiative will benefit many students. The UGC has
not worked out
any curriculum. It is doubtful whether it can be included in B.Ed
programme by next
year."
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