ACHIEVEMENTS

Within the 41 years of its existence, the institute has strived a long way and has achieved quite a lot in various fields. One of the most remarkable achievements worth mentioning could be the successful introduction of Dzongkha Language into Braille. Mr. Tashi Phuntsho, a teacher of MI and Dr. Sengye Namgyel, the director of Sherubtse College, Kanglung, the then teachers of MI jointly devised a Braille system for Dzongkha in 1985-86. In 1998 the two highly talented persons were awarded the “Druk Thuksey” medal, the highest award one could achieve in the land, from His Majesty the King of Bhutan. Their innovative efforts and extraordinary talents enabled them to come up with a unique combination of Braille characters for appropriate adoption of Dzongkha alphabet into Regular Braille. This achievement was further developed and regularized by the previous Dzongkha teacher, Mr. Kelzang Chhoegyel. In 1987, the first batch of prayer and Dzongkha books in Braille were available to the blind students. The Dzongkha Development Commission has officially approved the regular application of the Dzongkha Braille by the blind. This enables visually impaired students to read and write Dzongkha in Braille.

In 1978, the first batch of Visually Impaired appeared at Class V All Bhutan Common Examination. By 1979, the first Integration in a regular school began.

In 1981, Bhutan joined the rest of the world commemorating the International year for the disabled. Two students escorted by a teacher participated the Abelympic games and sports held in Japan Where a bronze medal on typing competition was won. It was the first medal to be won by a blind student in Bhutan. The rest of the students and teachers celebrrated in Thimphu, releasing the first issue of "Muensel" magazine.

In 1982 Mr. Sonam Tobgyal, first visually impaired, to be employed as a typist in Education sector of Dzongkhag Administration, Trashigang.

Some of the students won prizes in essay competition at the national level, both in English and Dzongkha. A few students have won medals in the FESPIC (Far East South Pacific) games for the disabled held in Japan, Hongkong, Indonesia, China and Bangkok. The first bronze medal in triple jump was won in Hongkong and the last medal, a silver medal in 100 meters race was won in 1999 at Bangkok on the 7th FESPIC games.

In 1998, on the commemoration of its 25th anniversary, an audio album in cassette and on CD, for the first time in Bhutan, were released through the generous funding of UNICEF, which was a great success.

Many a time, one can come across a blind student equally competent and even unrivalled sometimes with their sighted peers in the B.C.S.E and I.S.C. and other external examinations despite their limited textbooks. In 1998, Mr. Pema Choegyel, a blind student was admitted in Sherubtse college for regular B.A course after he excelled in I.S.C with 70% average marks aggregated from Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary School and graduated in 2001.

Mr. Pema Gyeltshen, the 1st B.Ed, student graduated from SCE, the then NIE July 2001 and was posted at institute, Khaling as a teacher.

Mr. Kuenga Dorji and Amrith Bahadur excelled in their I.S.C. Exams both securing over 72%. They were both qualified for scholarship abroad. Having completed their studies in Coimbatore, South India, are now back to Bhutan serving the Royal Government. Ms. Duptho Zangmo was the first blind girl to be admitted to Sherubtse College in 2002. In 2005, Mr. Amrith Bahdur Subba graduated from Cohimbatore University, India and was awarded Gold Medal. In the R.C.S.C. Common Examination he excelled from other sighted peers and achieved the fourth position.

In 2007, a project on the Establishment of a Computer training center for the visually impaired in institute began. On April 10, 2008, a computer center for the blind with twelve computers was set up. The first in-service course was held in January, 2009 followed by the 2nd in 2010 and the final in 2011. In 2012, through the support of the Royal Government of Bhutan and NORAD, 9 visually impaired students were provided a laptop each and were trained to use the laptop for persuing higher education. In 2014, MI trained 9 visually impaired integrated students studying in Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary. The course is funded by the RGOB. Lions Club of Druk Thimphu, Lions Club Ronse-Renaix (Belgium), Lions Clubs District 112-A Belgium and Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) sponsored the laptops and other equipment required for the course.

In 2008, the Low vision Service Center was set up in Institute. This service is to cater to the needs of low vision through out the nation.

In February of 2010, 48 students and 14 teachers were sent to Thailand for one week study tour by His Majesty.

In the month of March, 2010, the National Institute for the disabled was renamed as National Institute for the Visually Impaired.

On 2nd May, 2011, the web site of the institute was launched graced by the founding father of the institute, Mr. Einar Kippenes, Project officials from Norway and officials from the ministry of Education.

By 31st of December 2011, when the ICT project was completed with great success, the ICT syllabus and handbooks for teaching from Grade I to VIII was accomplished.

In January, 2012, institute organized the 4th ICT training and trained 9 visually impaired candidates. By then the institute collaborating with the SEN Office of MoE, have trained 39 visually impaired and provided a laptop to each candidate.

In 2012, Mr. Pema Dorji, a low vision student of institute integrated in Jigme Sherubling Higher Secondary School, achieved the 2nd position in the arts steam in Bhutan scoring 83.5%. All the five students of Class XII achieved good result. Similarly, the students of Class X had also equally obtained good result.

Mr. Pema Dorji has been selected to undergo LLB. Course in Hyderabad, India. Upon the completion of the course, he shall be the first visually impaired lawyer/judge of Bhutan.

In December 2012, NIVI was renamed as Muenselling Institute.

In January, 2014, institute organized the 5th ICT training and trained 9 visually impaired candidates. By then the institute collaborating with the SEN Office of MoE, have trained 48 visually impaired and provided a laptop to each candidate.

Up dated on 7th of May, 2014.