After outcry, differently abled school students allowed writers

Aparna Banerji
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, October 11

A day after allegations of inconvenience being meted out to specially-abled students during exams in the district, school administrations have made special arrangements for the students to appear for the compartment exams and they were also allowed to sit in the exam with their writers.

The Tribune had highlighted yesterday that a specially-abled student, Rayan Harris, had not been allowed to appear for his compartment exam at a school on Tuesday with his writer.

However, Rayan appeared for his English compartment exam at the Kendriya Vidyalaya 1 today and he was allowed to take his writer to the hall – who was barred from entering the examination centre on Tuesday.

Rayan, who is suffering with impairment in his legs and hands is a Class X student. While a vision-impaired student, Priyanka, was allowed to appear with his writer for her exam on Tuesday, both students, however were seated separately from other students in the examination for which they appeared today.

Vivek Joshi, an activist working for the differently abled, said: “Differently abled students are supposed to be seated separately but school administrations were not adhering to the norms earlier. We also ensured a written permission from the school of Rayan’s writer today. But the school administrations relented after the issue was highlighted. Otherwise, mostly students’ issues are not taken seriously nor separate seating arrangements are made due to which they suffer.” On Tuesday, Rayan had said while a writer, a Class VIII student, with a proper affidavit was taken by him to the exam centre, the authorities had insisted on a written permission from the writer’s school principal.

Schools acted after issue was highlighted: Activist

Vivek Joshi, an activist working for the differently abled, said: “Differently abled students are supposed to be seated separately but earlier, school administrations were not adhering to the guidelines. We also ensured a written permission from the school of Rayan’s writer on Thursday. But the school administrations relented after the issue was highlighted. Otherwise, mostly students’ issues are not taken seriously nor separate seating arrangements are made due to which they suffer a lot.”