Assam is the first state in the nation to offer Indian Sign Language (ISL) as an elective for Class XI students starting in the 2025–2026 school year, marking a significant step towards inclusive education.
Pupils with hearing impairments will benefit from the inclusion of sign language in the senior secondary curriculum, which also intends to open up new educational and employment options for all pupils. Seventy students have already signed up for the course this year, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, demonstrating early interest and a favorable response.
Launched by the Assam State School Education Board, the course is seen as a major policy step to increase accessibility and inclusivity in mainstream education. The action supports inclusive classrooms and fair learning opportunities for students with disabilities, which is in line with the larger objectives of the National Education Policy, 2020, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
In addition to applauding the announcement, educators and disability rights activists have demanded that sufficient training be provided for teachers, that accessible educational resources be created, and that sustained efforts be made to guarantee that Indian Sign Language is effectively included into the State's educational system.