No writers for slow learners this SSC, HSC exam
Vinamrata Borwankar | Mumbai:
Exception: If They Get Recommendation From KEM, Nair Or Sion Hospitals
Exception: If They Get Recommendation From KEM, Nair Or Sion Hospitals
Slow learners, with the
exception of those who have secured a special recommendation from
doctors, will not be able to avail of writers for the upcoming SSC and
HSC exams.
While parents and activists have been campaigning before
the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education
that slow learners be allowed to use writers, the change is not expected
to come through before the exams begin later this month.
In a January 2016 government resolution, the state board had revised the concessions offered to students with special needs. Under the new rules, two categories of students can avail of writers during an exam: Those with an IQ below 70 and those with learning disabilities. However, students with an IQ between 70 and 90, usually referred to as slow learners, do not fall in either of these categories and therefore cannot be given writers.Several parents and activists had approached the state board to add slow learners to the list.
A member of the committee, which addresses issues related to exam-related concessions, said, “We have once again written to the state board in this regard. While board officials, too, are of the opinion that these students must be included in the list, they need to communicate this proposed change to the government.“
Board officials said that slow learners will be allowed writers only if a certification centre makes a specific recommendation. The city has three certification centres--at KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals.
“Slow learners do not fit into any of the categories described in the Central Act concerning persons with disabilities.Hence, we cannot provide them with writers. However, in case a certifying doctor specifies that astudent needs a writer, we will consider the request and give the concession. Otherwise, students will only get 20 minutes of additional time per hour to write a paper,“ said Siddeshwar Chandekar, secretary of the board's Mumbai division.
Parents want slow learners to benefit, though. “Sion Hospital recommended that our child needs a writer and we are therefore being allowed to use one.Several other students might not have got such a recommendation. The rules should be changed so that parents don't have to run around till the last minute trying to prove that their case is an exception,“ said a mother.
Mental health experts, too, had written to school education minister Vinod Tawde requesting a change. “If a child with mild mental retardation can get an adult writer and those with normal and above normal intelligence with learning disabilities can get the same provision, then this facility should be extended to slow learners who are in the middle of these two groups. This would mean abiding by the principles of na tural justice,“ read a letter by psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty .Activists say there could be a way out if parents joined forces. “Autism was included as a category in the Act only in 2016.But parent groups pushed enough with the education boards and managed to get concessions the same year,“ said Merry Barua, founder director, Action for Autism.
TIMES VIEW:
Although `slow learning' is not recognized as a disability under the central legislation, it is important for groups working in various areas of education to study the problem and lobby with the government to bring about necessary changes in law. Given the scholastic and competitive standards of school education and the sheer percentage of dropouts at higher levels, it may be necessary to support sections of students who have a lower-than-average IQ; institutions and educationists must adopt an all-inclusive approach so that no child is left behind.
In a January 2016 government resolution, the state board had revised the concessions offered to students with special needs. Under the new rules, two categories of students can avail of writers during an exam: Those with an IQ below 70 and those with learning disabilities. However, students with an IQ between 70 and 90, usually referred to as slow learners, do not fall in either of these categories and therefore cannot be given writers.Several parents and activists had approached the state board to add slow learners to the list.
A member of the committee, which addresses issues related to exam-related concessions, said, “We have once again written to the state board in this regard. While board officials, too, are of the opinion that these students must be included in the list, they need to communicate this proposed change to the government.“
Board officials said that slow learners will be allowed writers only if a certification centre makes a specific recommendation. The city has three certification centres--at KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals.
“Slow learners do not fit into any of the categories described in the Central Act concerning persons with disabilities.Hence, we cannot provide them with writers. However, in case a certifying doctor specifies that astudent needs a writer, we will consider the request and give the concession. Otherwise, students will only get 20 minutes of additional time per hour to write a paper,“ said Siddeshwar Chandekar, secretary of the board's Mumbai division.
Parents want slow learners to benefit, though. “Sion Hospital recommended that our child needs a writer and we are therefore being allowed to use one.Several other students might not have got such a recommendation. The rules should be changed so that parents don't have to run around till the last minute trying to prove that their case is an exception,“ said a mother.
Mental health experts, too, had written to school education minister Vinod Tawde requesting a change. “If a child with mild mental retardation can get an adult writer and those with normal and above normal intelligence with learning disabilities can get the same provision, then this facility should be extended to slow learners who are in the middle of these two groups. This would mean abiding by the principles of na tural justice,“ read a letter by psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty .Activists say there could be a way out if parents joined forces. “Autism was included as a category in the Act only in 2016.But parent groups pushed enough with the education boards and managed to get concessions the same year,“ said Merry Barua, founder director, Action for Autism.
TIMES VIEW:
Although `slow learning' is not recognized as a disability under the central legislation, it is important for groups working in various areas of education to study the problem and lobby with the government to bring about necessary changes in law. Given the scholastic and competitive standards of school education and the sheer percentage of dropouts at higher levels, it may be necessary to support sections of students who have a lower-than-average IQ; institutions and educationists must adopt an all-inclusive approach so that no child is left behind.
Source : Feb 14 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)
Link : http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=No-writers-for-slow-learners-this-SSC-HSC-14022017005009
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