UGC gives differently abled students extra exam time

Keeping the interest of differently abled candidates in mind, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all the higher education institutions to provide a minimum one-hour ‘compensatory time’ for a three-hour examination.

However, the candidates can claim the compensatory time with or without a scribe.

The UGC in the latest circular said the persons with benchmark disability (PwBD) have to produce valid documents to avail the service and prove the necessity of the scribe to write the exam.

“All candidates with benchmark disabilities, who are eligible to avail a scribe, may be allowed additional time of minimum of one-hour for examination of three hours duration, whether they use a scribe or not,” the circular, as defined by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said.

The additional time should not be less than 20 minutes per hour of examination, the circular added.

“If the examination is less than one hour, then additional time must be allocated accordingly on a pro-rata basis. Additional time should not be less than five minutes and should be in multiples of five minutes,” it said.

Welcoming the move, visually challenged candidate Muniyappa told DH: “This was a long-pending demand. We needed extra time during the examinations. It’s not possible for us to think and dictate the same to scribes within three hours. The extra time will be of much help for us.” The circular has also clearly mentioned the usage of the word ‘extra time’ or ‘additional time,’ changing to ‘compensatory time’.