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School for deaf hears chemistry's calling - Chandigarh - City - The Times of India
With a scientist of Indian origin, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, being one of the recipients of this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry, it is
reasonable that subject would get greater attention in the country. Vatika High School for Deaf and Dumb, Sector 19, also intends to make experimental chemistry part of its curriculum from the next academic session.
The school’s principal, Anagha Soman, said this would help in instilling a sense of curiosity among the students. At the moment, the school offers just theoretical science education. The motive behind this step is to bring these children closer to reality and subsequently get them into the mainstream educational institutions, she said.
The school is also set to introduce early screening of sense of hearing among children. ‘Hearing disability also affects speech, and that cannot be corrected. Many parents ignore this and repent later. We will also guide parents about it,’ said Soman.
Informing about the necessity of lab experiments, she said, ‘These children have learnt about green plants and photosynthesis, but don’t know how it occurs. Similarly, when a litmus test to determine the acidic and basic nature of a substance is shown to these children, they can relate better to what is taught in the classroom.’
The school has 120 students and majority of them are from below poverty line families. Recently, these children were taught how to make candles for sale during the festival of Diwali. ‘Though, unlike previous years, the participation was full this time, students were not interested in what caused candles to burn. I felt they lacked scientific temper and anxiety. Punjab School Education Board has exempted these students from many subjects. But we intend to train them in experimental science,’ added Soman.
‘These children are learning computers, candle making and taking part in beauty courses. We take them out to visit zoos and parks. However, there is need for enhancing their language-related skills,’ said a teacher.
With a scientist of Indian origin, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, being one of the recipients of this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry, it is
reasonable that subject would get greater attention in the country. Vatika High School for Deaf and Dumb, Sector 19, also intends to make experimental chemistry part of its curriculum from the next academic session.
The school’s principal, Anagha Soman, said this would help in instilling a sense of curiosity among the students. At the moment, the school offers just theoretical science education. The motive behind this step is to bring these children closer to reality and subsequently get them into the mainstream educational institutions, she said.
The school is also set to introduce early screening of sense of hearing among children. ‘Hearing disability also affects speech, and that cannot be corrected. Many parents ignore this and repent later. We will also guide parents about it,’ said Soman.
Informing about the necessity of lab experiments, she said, ‘These children have learnt about green plants and photosynthesis, but don’t know how it occurs. Similarly, when a litmus test to determine the acidic and basic nature of a substance is shown to these children, they can relate better to what is taught in the classroom.’
The school has 120 students and majority of them are from below poverty line families. Recently, these children were taught how to make candles for sale during the festival of Diwali. ‘Though, unlike previous years, the participation was full this time, students were not interested in what caused candles to burn. I felt they lacked scientific temper and anxiety. Punjab School Education Board has exempted these students from many subjects. But we intend to train them in experimental science,’ added Soman.
‘These children are learning computers, candle making and taking part in beauty courses. We take them out to visit zoos and parks. However, there is need for enhancing their language-related skills,’ said a teacher.