UK To Introduce Sign Language For Students

Dec 21 2023

Starting from September 2025, British Sign Language (BSL) will be offered as a GCSE in England, marking a significant stride towards inclusivity, according to the government.

All students will have the opportunity to learn approximately 1,000 signs, equipping them with a valuable life skill. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan emphasised the doors this qualification will open for young people.

Ofqual, the exams regulator, will review and accredit the syllabus following a 12-week public consultation involving input from parents, teachers, and representatives from the deaf and hearing communities.

BSL gained official recognition as a language in the UK last year through the British Sign Language Act. The National Deaf Children’s Society’s CEO, Susan Daniels, expressed delight at the publication of the course content after a decade of campaigning.

The GCSE aims to celebrate the rich culture and history of British Sign Language, a cause championed by 17-year-old Daniel Jillings, profoundly deaf since birth, who initiated the campaign at the age of 12.

While Daniel won’t directly benefit from the GCSE, he hopes it will reduce isolation for deaf students in schools. The British Deaf Association estimates 151,000 people in the UK use BSL, with 87,000 being deaf. The challenge now lies in how schools can effectively offer and deliver BSL education.

Despite support from educational associations, concerns about practical constraints, including staffing, finances, and time, are acknowledged. There is a call for training programs for both deaf and hearing individuals proficient in BSL to ensure a sustainable supply of qualified teachers.

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Non-Burping Can Lead To Physical Pain & Depression

Dec 21 2023

Individuals unable to burp endure not only physical discomfort but also emotional distress, including embarrassment, anxiety, and depression, according to research conducted by a team of Texan university academics.

The condition, known as Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction (R-CPD) or “no burp syndrome,” manifests as abdominal bloating, socially awkward gurgling noises, and flatulence.

The study highlights that many doctors are unfamiliar with R-CPD, leaving patients underserved and emphasises the necessity for increased awareness and research into the syndrome.

R-CPD occurs when the cricopharyngeal muscle in the throat fails to relax, hindering the passage of gas upwards. Dr. Yakubu Karagama, an ear, nose, and throat consultant, has been treating R-CPD patients with Botox injections since 2016, providing life-changing relief.

However, limited awareness within the health profession means this treatment is currently available only privately.

Dr. Karagama underscores the need for funding for clinical research, as many individuals suffering from R-CPD remain unaware of their condition.

The study, based on a survey of 199 individuals unable to burp, emphasises the mental and social implications of R-CPD, calling for increased understanding to enhance diagnosis, treatment rates, and ultimately improve the quality of life for affected individuals.

The study concludes that addressing the mental health implications of difficult-to-diagnose conditions is essential, advocating for further exploration in this regard.

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Get 10 Christmas Scratch Cards For Just 99c!

Dec 21 2023

It’s the final month of the year and that means Malta’s streets are decorated with twinkly lights and cute snowmen. Get into the Christmas spirit this festive season and jingle all the way to the happiest time of the year.

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10 games usually cost €3, but just for this Christmas season, you’ll get a glittering holiday discount where you get 10 games for less than a cup of coffee.

To claim the offer:

1. Sign up to Lottoland using this link
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When was the last time you felt excited for less than €1? Happy Holidays!

The offer must be redeemed by clicking on and signing up through the link provided in the article. This promotion is available to new players only and is only redeemable once per player. The promotion expires on 31st December 2023 at 23:59 CET.

Any unredeemed scratch cards will become void seven days after being credited into the player’s account. Scratch cards redeemed as part of this promotion may only be used in respect of the Christmas Scratch card.

These terms are supplemental to Lottoland’s Promotional Terms and Conditions which are found here.

Lottoland is operated by European Lotto and Betting Limited and is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority, license number MGA/B2C/609/2018. Gambling can be harmful if not controlled. Please play responsibly 18+ For help visit rgf.org.mt.

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South Korean Students Sue After Exam Ends 90 Seconds Early

Dec 21 2023

A cohort of South Korean students is taking legal action against the government after their college admission examination concluded 90 seconds prematurely, seeking compensation of 20 million won ($15,400; £12,000) each—equivalent to the cost of a year’s education to retake the test.

The timing error impacted the entirety of the students’ exams, according to their legal representative. The nation’s renowned college admission exam, Suneung, is an arduous eight-hour ordeal encompassing consecutive papers in various subjects, wielding significant implications for university placements, employment, and even future interpersonal relationships.

Extraordinary measures, such as closing the country’s airspace and delaying the stock market’s opening, are implemented to ensure students’ concentration during this critical annual event.

Filed by at least 39 students on Tuesday, the lawsuit asserts that a test center bell rang prematurely in Seoul during the Korean segment of the exam. Although some students protested immediately, supervisors allegedly confiscated their papers.

The error was acknowledged before the next session, and the students were granted an additional one and a half minutes during the lunch break.

However, they could only mark blank columns, unable to amend existing answers. Distraught by the incident, some students reportedly abandoned the exam altogether.

The students’ lawyer, Kim Woo-suk, stated that education authorities had not issued an apology. Previous instances of legal action over early bell ringing during the Suneung exam were noted in 2021, where students were awarded compensation, and in 2012, a Chinese man faced legal consequences for ringing the bell prematurely.

#MaltaDaily