New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has announced to offer new undergraduate (UG) and post graduate (PG) programmes along with B Ed in a phased manner for deaf students. The programmes will be offered at Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC). According to sources, the University authorities made the announcement during the first foundation day of ISLRTC celebrations held at the Conference Hall of University campus, recently.
As per sources, Professor Gopinath Pradhan, Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, delivered the address and underlined the fact that the objective of the University is to reach the unreached and with the establishment of ISLRTC, this mandate of the university stands tall. He further added that by introducing such programmes, the University is aiming to improve the skills of the deaf community in the country and also uplifting a particular section in the society by imparting training to them.
In addition, Prof. Avadhesh Kumar Singh, Director, ISLRTC mentioned that with the establishment of such a centre, all ISL users have created their own space in the society and have been accepted all over the world today. The foundation day of ISLRTC was celebrated by all deaf students and staff members of the University. During the event, Dr Hemlata, programme coordinator, BASSLS, distributed the first newsletter of ISLRTC and delivered the vote of thanks.
ISLRTC is sponsored by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and located in the headquarters IGNOU, New Delhi. The foundation stone of this esteemed learning centre was laid last year by Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource and Development, and Shri Mukul Wasnik, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, in the University campus to strengthen the identity of Indian Sign Language (ISL) as a bonafide language and promote its use in educational and social setting.
