Never Give Up

Record number of deaf teenagers in India passing exams despite barriers

We have recently received excellent news from our partners in India that several of the deaf teenagers they have been supporting have passed their board exams. These are exams students sit around the age of 16 that determine if and where they continue to study.

Our partner SAMUHA, working in Karnataka, reports 10 deaf students from its projects were successful in passing their board exams and are now looking forward to continuing with further education.

In West Bengal, the Child In Need Institute has had 19 students pass the exam, with one student receiving an A grade. Graham Bell Centre for the Deaf had 17 deaf students pass the exam.

All three of our partners have worked with these deaf teenagers for many years, continually providing accessible education to them throughout primary and secondary school. This includes running specialist lessons for deaf children from their centres, creating visual learning materials, and ensuring interpreters were present at exams.

These results are particularly hard won, given how the pandemic has affected teenager’s education. Graham Bell Centre for the Deaf says:

''Along with the barriers resulted from their disabilities, there were many more uncertainties like: Online/ Offline confusion, year-long closure of schools due to Covid-19 pandemic and inaccessibility of digital education system in this rural area, have created frustration and demotivation among the students. But our Community Resource Group Members*, Teachers and Interpreters never give up.’’

Shampa Nath, Head of South Asia for Deaf Child Worldwide says the results are remarkable.

''There was a time when the idea of a deaf child in one of these communities ever completing school would have been unimaginable. Additionally, it is remarkable to see so many girls represented in these figures too because culturally parents often decide that teenage girls need to stop their education and help with the housework while a husband is found.’’

Joanna Clark, director of Deaf Child Worldwide, says these results are extremely encouraging.

‘‘We and our partners know that it takes long-term commitment to make sure that deaf children have the right support at school. These results show what is possible when the barriers to education are removed. We wish all these students the best of luck in their future studies and careers.’’

*Community Resource Group Members are local people with an interest or experience in education who are trained by partner staff in teaching deaf children. For example, they could be a retired teacher or an older sibling of a deaf child. They then use their training to teach deaf children and make accessible teaching materials for deaf students.