Maharashtra Ssc Exam

12 deaf-mute students overcome odds to ace Maharashtra SSC exams

In the bustling streets of Kurla, 19-year-old Salik Kotwal is preparing for a life-changing moment. Once, even passing school seemed impossible to him. But today, as he gets ready for his SSC board exams, that dream of completing his higher education and securing a job in a corporate company feels closer than ever. Salik is among 12 students, all of whom are deaf and mute, taking on a challenge that once seemed too great. These young students are preparing to take their SSC exams, and for many of them, it’s the first time they will attempt the English language paper. For students like Salik, learning English has never been easy. But thanks to the incredible dedication of the teachers at TEACH (Training and Educational Centre for Hearing Impaired), these students have been given a chance they never had before. TEACH is a Mumbai-based charitable trust committed to providing higher education opportunities to students with hearing and speech impairments. Through patient, personalized training, they’ve helped these students learn English, a subject that many thought would remain out of their reach. Aman Sharma, co-founder of TEACH, discussed the hurdles and limitations that deaf and mute students face in accessing higher education. The journey hasn’t been easy, but these students have overcome obstacles with strength and resilience