Specially abled student denied writer

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 10

Differently abled students in the district have alleged harassment by various school administrations who are not allowing them to appear for their compartment exams. While a Class X student on Tuesday was disallowed from taking his writer inside the exam centre, differently abled activists expressed concerns that the same might be repeated with other students, some of whom are visually impaired who won’t be able to write their exams.

The activists said since the problem was being faced during the compartment exams, there is a possbility that the high-handedness of the educational institutes imperil the future of these children.

Rayan Harris, a specially abled Class X student, who appeared for an exam at Kendritya Vidyalaya No.1 in Jalandhar on Tuesday, had to sit for his Home Science compartment exam without a writer since the authorities of the school where he was appearing did not allow his writer to give the exam. Rayan is suffering from impairment in his hands and legs.

Speaking to The Tribune, Rayan said: “We had applied to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) 20 days ago. We were expecting the permission before the start of the exam, we didn’t get it. I have trouble writing with my hands but due to the exam staff being adamant I had to write my paper myself. I have another exam tomorrow. I hope for tomorrow at least I would be allowed to appear for the exam with the writer.”

Rayan said while a writer, a VIII student, with a proper affidavit was taken by him to the exam centre, the authorities insisted on a written permission from the writer’s school principal.

Satnam Singh, principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, said: “Either a permission from the NIOS or from the principal of the school where the student, who is appearing as the writer studies, is mandatory for us to permit a writer to appear for the exam. Merely an affidavit does not suffice. We asked the student to get a permission from their principal but that did not happen. We are helpless in the situation. Unless this is done, we can’t allow the student to appear.”

Vivek Joshi, who teaches many of these students under his NGO, Madhav Sewa Society, in Jalandhar said: “Rayan and another visually impaired student has an exam tomorrow as well. We had applied for permission for a writer from the NIOS well in time. If the students did not get it, is it their fault? The compartment exams will be conducted again next year. If these students don’t make it, it would mean an entire year would be wasted. School students do not get permission for writers. The authorities are harassing students.”

Activists express their concern

While a Class X student on Tuesday was disallowed from taking his writer inside the exam centre, differently abled activists expressed concerns that the same might be repeated with other students, some of whom are visually impaired who won’t be able to write their exams. The activists said since the problem was being faced during the compartment exams, there is a possbility that the high-handedness of the educational institutes imperil the future of these children.