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All India Pingalwara Charitable Society (Regd) Amritsar.

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Bhagat Puran Singh School for The Deaf, Manawala.

BHAGAT PURAN SINGH SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, MANAWALA.

A joint project of the Pingalwara Society of Ontario Canada & All India Pingalwara Charitable Society

According to National Education Policy 2020 “Education is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society, and promoting national development. Providing universal access to quality education is the key to India’s continued ascent, and leadership on the global stage in terms of economic growth, social justice and equality, scientific advancement, national integration, and cultural preservation.” Deaf and mute children are also a part of our society. They also have full right to education. But due to lack of awareness about them in the government and the society, not adequate attention is being paid to educating the deaf children.

The number of schools for the deaf and mute is very limited. There are only about 24 schools for them in Punjab. Out of 23 districts, 8 districts do not have schools for the deaf. According to a study, only 15% of the deaf children attend school. The remaining children devoid of education,  develop behavior problems and become a burden on the society. Keeping these problems in mind, Dr Jagdeepak Singh and his wife Dr Inderjit Kaur started Bhagat Puran Singh School for the Deaf in 2005. From the very beginning the entire education is free of charge. Students are provided free books, uniforms and stationery material.

OBJECTIVES: – Our objective is to make deaf students self-reliant with good communication and vocational skills.

After passing 10th standard the student should have good command of his/her sign language and English/Punjabi language.

They should be able to communicate freely in ISL and express themselves in writing in their second language.

They should be able to understand the environment in which they live by reading newspapers, watching TV, etc.

They should be clear in their mind about the vocation they want to pursue for their future.

FUNDING: – The schools are being run with the active support of Pingalwara Society of Ontario, Canada and All India Pingalwara Charitable Society (Regd.), Amritsar.

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL: – The school started  with 2 rooms, 15 children and one teacher in the building of Adarsh School. At that time, sign language was not used in the school and there was no curriculum. Fortunately in 2007 Home of Hope, California, U.S.A stepped in and the school has never looked back since then. Jim and Kim arrived from Berkeley California to streamline the curriculum. A teachers’ workshop was organized and they started learning sign language. At all times HOH has been providing full support. Our goal is holistic development of children with academic and vocational education. 

SCHOOL BUILDING: – From two rooms the school moved to its present building in 2009. Six more rooms were added in 2019 to cater to the increasing number of students. An administrative block was added in 2023. There are 24 open and ventilated classrooms to provide a comfortable environment for learning. 1 Science Lab, 1 Sculpture Lab, 1 Sewing Room, 1 Speech Therapy Room, 1 Video Room, 1 Home Science Lab, 1 library, 1 play room, Skype room, 2 art rooms, 1 Moodle lab and 1 computer lab complete all the school requirements. All classrooms have LCD and internet facility so that teachers can explain to students through PPTs/videos.

USE OF SIGN LANGUAGE: – All the subjects are being taught with the help of sign language. For the first time in the history of Punjab, Punjabi is being taught along with English with the help of sign language. Speaking and listening training is an important part of our curriculum. 

SCHOOLS: – Currently we have 240 students and 21 teachers with 9 supporting staff. All the teachers are very hardworking and well trained in the use of sign language. Our school at Manawala is a main school with 184 students. Classes in Manawala School are from Pre-Nursery to 12th standard.

Three elementary schools are located at Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur and Sarhali. We started an outreach program “Skype” for online classes in the elementry schools for teaching and evaluating the students. Another school at Naraingarh near Dasuya, Hoshiarpur is being planned. The land for the school has been donated by a well wisher of Pingalwara.

HOSTEL: – There are different hostels for boys and girls and presently 135 students are staying in the hostels. 

SYLLABUS: –The school follows NIOS syllabus with science and mathematics subjects. All subjects are being taught in sign language.

OPTIONS AVAILABLE AFTER 12th: – The following options are available 

Higher studies at Khalsa College, Amritsar

Vocational training in Electrician, carpentry work.

Sign language courses

  • Assistant teachers
  • Stitching and embroidery
  • Wood sculpting
  • Floor assistants in Malls/Hotels.

SPORTS: – Following sports and games are being practiced in the school:

  • Cricket
  • Volleyball
  • Judo
  • Chess

Students are encouraged to participate in various sports in the school for their physical and mental fitness. We have a deaf coach Mr. Balraj Singh who helps the students in sports. Our school has two separate cricket teams for boys and girls and 1 volleyball team. Our students also participate in judo competitions and have won many district level and state level prizes. Our Yoga Coach Shri Shantanu Mukherjee trains the students for their physical fitness and mental relaxation. Our shining star student Mohit has won many prizes in various competitions held at district level, state level and national level. The school participates at the national level in Judo and Yoga. A small gymnasium is being setup in the school.

CLASSROOMS: – All classrooms have LCD and each teacher is provided with a laptop so that they can teach students through sign language and multimedia. Extensive use of PPTs and videos enhances learning experience of the students. The syllabus is well structured. Two computer labs meet all the ICT requirements of the students.

GRAPHICS TRAINING: – Graphic tablets are used with Canva and Adobe Illustrator software to train the students for vocations in Computer Graphics.

PROGRAMMING: – SCRATCH is being taught from standard 1st to 5th. Python will be introduced from the next session for students from 6th standard. The school aims to introduce AI course in the 10th standard.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: – 

DANCING: – Regular practice in dancing continues with participation in local functions and annual national function organized by Anam Prem in various parts of the country. 

DRAWING: – Students take part in the local and national competitions.

RANGOLI AND MEHNDI: – Highly skilled students take part in various competitions.

PAINTING: – Trained teachers teach students art of Drawing, Glass painting, Block painting and Textile painting. 

On the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, every year students participate in the cultural program organized by “Anam Prem” which is organized at the National level. In this program, students participate in various activities like drawing, rangoli, quiz and dance. 

VOCATIONAL COURSES: – Along with studies the following vocational courses are being offered:-

SEWING AND EMBROIDERY COURSE: – Girls are learning sewing and embroidery and most of our school uniforms are stitched by our students.

WOOD SCULPTURE: – Students also learn wood sculpting in school. They make beautiful sculptures under the guidance of a trainer.

CARPENTRY: – Vocational training is also available in Carpentry and we have 4 students undergoing training here. All the woodwork and repair work of the Manawala complex is done by the students of our school.

ELECTRICITY COURSE: – Students also learn electrical work under the guidance of a trainer. A teacher assists the trainer in sign language so that students can understand the theory part.  Rewinding of motors, repairing ceiling fans and other home appliances, repairing of audio equipment is being carried out by the students.

SPEECH THERAPY: – Speech therapy is also given to the students. There are 5 students with cochlear implants who need extensive speech training. 

VISITORS: – 

  • The school has been getting regular support from SES, Germany. Every year a skilled teacher arrives from Germany for training of the school teachers. The training is for three weeks.
  • Esther and David from Netherlands have sent a team of 12 Sign language experts to the school. The experts are from 8 different countries. They hold monthly training sessions in the school.
  • IT Company 1Gen provides weekly lessons in Moral education. 

Bhagat Puran Singh School for the Deaf with the support of Pingalwara Charitable Society and volunteers from all parts of the world is fulfilling the dreams of Bhagat Puran Singh Ji by providing good and free education to the deaf students.