Overview

• Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma formally launched the sign language elective in June, marking Assam’s first systemic integration of Indian Sign Language into senior secondary schools.
• Seventy students have enrolled in the Class XI course for the current academic year, demonstrating early student interest.
• The elective aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 as part of the board’s broader introduction of subjects like artificial intelligence and financial literacy.
• The Assam Association of the Deaf co-developed textbooks to ensure the curriculum meets both educational standards and practical communication needs.
• Disability rights advocates are calling for the development of accessible teaching materials to guarantee effective inclusion of sign language instruction.