Braille made compulsory for BEd curriculum

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.”