<p>Specially abled students, part of mainstream pre-university course in the science stream, need not appear for practical exams from this year as the department of Pre University Education (PUE) has decided to make it more comfortable for them by replacing the practical exam with multiple choice questions. <br /><br />The decision was taken to make it easier for students with blindness, low vision, locomotor disability after the government received representations to alter the examination system to make it friendlier to specially-challenged students. <br /><br />Following the directions of a government order dated November 6, 2012, the Department of PUE has issued a circular on January 24, asking all colleges to follow this system. While this will be implemented for I PUC students from this year (exams in February 2013), for II PUC students, the same will be implemented from the 2014 annual exams. </p>.<p>This form of examination will be applicable to students with vision and locomotor disabilities recognised in the Persons With Disabilities Act, 1995.<br /><br />Accordingly, colleges have been asked to not ‘insist or force’ students to perform experiments. The said Multiple Choice Questions will be given for 20 marks and reduced to 10 marks. For those who cannot write the exams themselves, scribes will be provided.<br /><br />‘Time to make use of tech’<br /><br />Dyslexic students will not fall under this examination pattern as they would fare better in practical exams. <br />Activists and academicians working with specially-challenged students welcomed the decision, saying it was a long awaited one. However, it is just the beginning, they felt, as the entire examination system needed to be re-looked for the benefit of specially-challenged students. <br /><br />“Dyslexic children are extremely bright. They need hands on training which is not available in mainstream institutions. In this direction, the examination system should focus on providing them opportunities or practical and oral exams than theory that is being followed till now,” Chetana Keni of the Aurinko Academy said. <br /><br />In addition to this, the DPUE should make use of the latest technology available for students with cerebral palsy and visual impairment, opined Usha, a city-based activist for students with disability.<br /><br /> “There are several softwares available at present for specially-abled students. The department could make use of available technology to give exam for these kids, making the system more exclusive,” she said.<br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, the State commissioner for persons with disabilities said the State also needed to keep better track of the number of students with disabilities in mainstream education. <br /><br />“There are no records in the education department providing crucial statistics with regard to students with disability. Due to this, one is not able to assess the number of such students entering the mainstream education or dropping out.”<br /><br />Further, the department of social welfare has not been included in the dialogue and the DPUE has to specify the grounds on which changes in the exam system are made for the benefit of persons with disabilities, he added. <br /><br />“We could evolve a better system if everybody was included in the dialogue,” he said. <br /></p>
<p>Specially abled students, part of mainstream pre-university course in the science stream, need not appear for practical exams from this year as the department of Pre University Education (PUE) has decided to make it more comfortable for them by replacing the practical exam with multiple choice questions. <br /><br />The decision was taken to make it easier for students with blindness, low vision, locomotor disability after the government received representations to alter the examination system to make it friendlier to specially-challenged students. <br /><br />Following the directions of a government order dated November 6, 2012, the Department of PUE has issued a circular on January 24, asking all colleges to follow this system. While this will be implemented for I PUC students from this year (exams in February 2013), for II PUC students, the same will be implemented from the 2014 annual exams. </p>.<p>This form of examination will be applicable to students with vision and locomotor disabilities recognised in the Persons With Disabilities Act, 1995.<br /><br />Accordingly, colleges have been asked to not ‘insist or force’ students to perform experiments. The said Multiple Choice Questions will be given for 20 marks and reduced to 10 marks. For those who cannot write the exams themselves, scribes will be provided.<br /><br />‘Time to make use of tech’<br /><br />Dyslexic students will not fall under this examination pattern as they would fare better in practical exams. <br />Activists and academicians working with specially-challenged students welcomed the decision, saying it was a long awaited one. However, it is just the beginning, they felt, as the entire examination system needed to be re-looked for the benefit of specially-challenged students. <br /><br />“Dyslexic children are extremely bright. They need hands on training which is not available in mainstream institutions. In this direction, the examination system should focus on providing them opportunities or practical and oral exams than theory that is being followed till now,” Chetana Keni of the Aurinko Academy said. <br /><br />In addition to this, the DPUE should make use of the latest technology available for students with cerebral palsy and visual impairment, opined Usha, a city-based activist for students with disability.<br /><br /> “There are several softwares available at present for specially-abled students. The department could make use of available technology to give exam for these kids, making the system more exclusive,” she said.<br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, the State commissioner for persons with disabilities said the State also needed to keep better track of the number of students with disabilities in mainstream education. <br /><br />“There are no records in the education department providing crucial statistics with regard to students with disability. Due to this, one is not able to assess the number of such students entering the mainstream education or dropping out.”<br /><br />Further, the department of social welfare has not been included in the dialogue and the DPUE has to specify the grounds on which changes in the exam system are made for the benefit of persons with disabilities, he added. <br /><br />“We could evolve a better system if everybody was included in the dialogue,” he said. <br /></p>
