National Education Day
11 November 2016
Inter-district Workshop
on Braille-skill development among Blind & vision impaired students &
teachers
Significance
National Education Day is an annual observance in
India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the
first education minister of independent India, who
served from 15 August 1947 until 2 February 1958. National Education Day of
India is celebrated on 11 November every year.
Abul Kalam Muhiyuddin Ahmed Azad (11 November 1888 – 22
February 1958) was an Indian scholar and a senior political leader of the
Indian independence movement. Following India’s independence, he became the
first Minister of Education in the Indian government. In 1992 he
was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award,
the Bharat Ratna. His contribution to establishing the education
foundation in India is recognised by celebrating his birthday as “National
Education Day” across India.
Objective of celebrating National
education day:The objective of celebrating National Education Day should be to strengthen our educational institutions and to raise the quality of education to greater heights.
Purpose of SVH
In order to participate actively in the observance of this event, SVH planned a Braille-skill upgradation Workshop for inter-district special school students within the facility of Nabadwip APC Blind School, Nadia district, West Bengal. Choice of this Special School was an outcome of our persistent monitoring of Brailler use by students, Braillers donated by The Hans Foundation through SVH. Students from Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok Niketan, Beldanga, Murshidabad Dist & Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay, Siliguri, Darjeeling Dist also participated. Pl see Annex 1 for detail of participants.
Program (Day 1- 10-11-2016)
Participants started arriving at Nabadwip from 10 Nov afternoon onwards. As soon as Resource Persons from Kolkata arrived procedure for registration began. Participants from Siliguri arrived early morning of 11 Nov.
Registration was recorded by organizing the participants present assisted by Resource Persons. Apart from noting detail of each individual participant, information on their family and educational background were explored as far as possible. From 6PM till 8.30 PM the interaction continued.
Session 1: 7-9AM
Program (Day 2 - 11-11-2016)
Session started at 7AM. It was extremely to find that participants were all ready, eager to take the Workshop forward. Participants from Siliguri arrived early in the morning and they were accommodated in the four groups formed led by Resource Persons holding a structured questionnaire seeking answer from each participant. Answers varied a lot depending on the Braille practice of the participant. Nevertheless we could trace the vital clues needed for our future Braille production schedule. Pl see Annex 2 for a sample questionnaire.
Session 2: 10 AM-1PM
Program (Day 2 - 11-11-2016)
This session was used for demonstration of digital audio-listening aids & appliances to each individual participant so that they are equipped about the shape, size, operation and maintenance of these various MP3 players. It was noticed that except a few students from among the participants who are confident enough to travel to SVH Braille & Talking Book Library, Kolkata, place requisition for their study material in audio format and collect the machine loaded with audio books, others drew totally blank about the existence of these MP3 players including EVD players.
Break up
Participants with their sighted representatives dispersed after lunch with travel reimbursement.
Findings
1. At school level students are using Braille for writing class notes etc but they have no time to read Braille for the pleasure of enhancing knowledge.
2. Collection of Braille books is available; at APC Blind School teachers are encouraging students to read Braille books for classroom matter as well as for knowledge-building. But response from students showed a negative one.
3. As far as mathematics is concerned students said that they were familiar with primary level Braille signs but in the absence of a Braille-guidance service they give up reading the Maths Braille book independently. Teacher in the class tells them the particular sign of a maths sum and the students have to depend on Taylor frame to solve it which involves a very long time. No Braille slate is used to write a sum or to Braille the step by step process of solving a sum.
5. Almost all students expressed their fear about reading English Braille because of the use of contraction (shorthand code) caused by poor command on English language. Statements revealed that reading of English Braille is zero among students and a knowledgeable guidance is called for.
Conclusion
There is one other SVH Workshop on Braille-skill development is scheduled (15-17 December 2016) in Siliguri district covering Blind & vision impaired students enrolled in general schools under Sarva Sikhsha Mission and those enrolled in special schools. After matching our observations found there we shall take up our next program toward Braille-skill development and spread of Braille literacy among students and teachers.
Annex 1
|
Sl no
|
Name of participant
|
Gender
|
Institution
|
Class
|
District
|
|
1
|
Asmira Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Burdwan
|
|
2
|
Rojina Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VI
|
Burdwan
|
|
3
|
Joynabh Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Burdwan
|
|
4
|
Taiba Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Burdwan
|
|
5
|
Mousumi Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Nadia
|
|
6
|
Santana Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
IX
|
Nadia
|
|
7
|
Marufa Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VII
|
Nadia
|
|
8
|
Sahanara Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VII
|
Nadia
|
|
9
|
Mampi Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Nadia
|
|
10
|
Ritu Biswas
|
F
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
X
|
Nadia
|
|
11
|
Alamgir Biswas
|
M
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VIII
|
Murshidabad
|
|
12
|
Bhajan Biswas
|
M
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
V
|
Nadia
|
|
13
|
Hasibul Sk
|
M
|
Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
VI
|
Nadia
|
|
14
|
Santana Ghosh
|
F
|
Calcutta Blind Achool
|
XI
|
Burdwan
|
|
15
|
Supriya Biswas
|
F
|
NSOU
|
BA I
|
Burdwan
|
|
16
|
Azad Ali Mahaldar
|
M
|
NSOU
|
BA I
|
Nadia
|
|
17
|
Alauddin Molla
|
M
|
|
BA I
|
Nadia
|
|
|
Sharmila Roy
|
F
|
|
BA II
|
Nadia
|
|
18
|
Jasmina Khatun
|
F
|
|
BA III
|
Burdwan
|
|
19
|
Delafroz Khatun
|
F
|
Nabadwip Vidyasagar College
|
BA III
|
Burdwan
|
|
20
|
Rajkumar Bhagat
|
M
|
|
MA I Bengali
|
Nadia
|
|
21
|
Pintu Pal
|
M
|
Passed MA & Special BEd
|
Competitive exam
|
Nadia
|
|
22
|
Mrinal Kanti Saha
|
M
|
Assistant Teacher, Nabadwip APC Blind School
|
-
|
Nadia
|
|
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok Niketan
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
Nur Alam Sk
|
M
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
VI
|
Murshidabad
|
|
24
|
Shamali Sarkar
|
F
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
III
|
Murshidabad
|
|
25
|
Rinku Das
|
M
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
VII
|
Murshidabad
|
|
26
|
Robiul Alam
|
M
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
VIII
|
Murshidabad
|
|
27
|
Laksman Mukherjee
|
M
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
Teacher in charge
|
Murshidabad
|
|
28
|
Rashida Khatun
|
F
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
Hostel staff
|
Murshidabad
|
|
29
|
Moharam Ali
|
|
Jhunka Pratibandhi Alok
Niketan
|
Teacher in charge
|
Murshidabad
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin
Bidyalay
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
Rajesh Toppo
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
VI
|
Darjeeling
|
|
31
|
Joydeep Indu
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
VIII
|
Darjeeling
|
|
32
|
Abhishek Mahali
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
V
|
Darjeeling
|
|
33
|
Bhagabat Pramanik
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
IX
|
Darjeeling
|
|
34
|
Uttam Mahato
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
XI
|
Darjeeling
|
|
35
|
Shukaru Oraw
|
M
|
Bagdogra College
|
BA II History
|
Darjeeling
|
|
33
|
Biswanath Murmu
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
BAI, Spl English, IGNOU
|
Darjeeling
|
|
34
|
Asish Das
|
F
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
Teacher
|
Darjeeling
|
|
35
|
Anup Minj
|
M
|
Bhimbar Snehashram Dristihin Bidyalay
|
Escort
|
Darjeeling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Resource Persons
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Billamangal Biswas
|
M
|
SVH
|
|
Nadia
|
|
2
|
Meena Samanta
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Hooghly
|
|
3
|
Sipra Maitra
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Kolkata
|
|
4
|
Birendranath Mukherjee
|
M
|
SVH
|
|
Hooghly
|
|
5
|
Hena Basu
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Kolkata
|
|
6
|
Sukla Roy
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Kolkata
|
|
7
|
Sangeeta Hazra
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Kolkata
|
|
8
|
Debasish Paine
|
M
|
SVH
|
|
Bankura
|
|
|
Coordination & Accounts
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
Meena Sur
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Kolkata
|
|
10
|
Urmi Majumdar
|
F
|
SVH
|
|
Howrah
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
APC School staff
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
Debasish Bhattacharya
|
M
|
Principal
|
|
Nadia
|
|
2
|
Basudeb Chatterjee
|
M
|
Assistant Teacher
|
|
Nadia
|
|
3
|
Dipak Kumar Guin
|
F
|
Assistant Teacher
|
|
Nadia
|
|
4
|
Rabindranath Sil
|
M
|
Mobility Instructor
|
|
Nadia
|
|
5
|
Surendra Chakraborty
|
M
|
Hostel Superintendent
|
|
Nadia
|
|
6
|
Gopal Kansbanik
|
M
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
7
|
Sasanka Chakraborty
|
M
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
8
|
Abhay Kumar Das
|
M
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
9
|
Arpita Kundu
|
F
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
10
|
Sabita Das
|
F
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
11
|
Saswati Das
|
F
|
Group D staff
|
|
Nadia
|
|
12
|
Jasoda Saha
|
F
|
Cook
|
|
Nadia
|
|
13
|
Kalyani Ghosh
|
F
|
Cook
|
|
Nadia
|
|
14
|
Khuku Chakraborty
|
F
|
Cook
|
|
Nadia
|
|
15
|
Mahadeb Datta
|
M
|
Caretaker
|
|
Nadia
|
|
16
|
Ratan Sil
|
M
|
Photographer
|
|
Nadia
|
