Visually-Challenged Candidates Put in Extra Effort for BSE Exams

Visually-Challenged Candidates Put in Extra Effort for BSE Exams

‘Train them with regard to use of writers in examination hall’

Thirteen visually impaired class X students and their teachers at Red Cross School for the Blind at Ambapua area of the city are now putting in extra hard work for the preparations for the board examination conducted by Board of Secondary Education (BSE), Odisha.

This year the BSE has changed the question pattern. So, these visually impaired students have to put in extra effort, said their teachers. These students and teachers are also trying hard to keep up the past glory of this institution. Since 1983, when first batch of this school had appeared the tenth board examination, the students of the school have shown hundred per cent pass results. And most of them have passed in first division. This school was inaugurated in 1974 by former president V.V.Giri. It had started with just four students but now has around 150 students.

The students of this residential school, who would appear for the secondary school board examination this year, include six girls and seven boys.

Usually other schools have their classes suspended for class X students one or two months before examinations to provide time for study to the students. But the students of this school for visually impaired remain in school to toil more as they need more time and help for exam preparations, said mathematics and science teacher M. Dandapani Rao.

According to Mr Rao, all teachers are now putting in extra time to coach the students even after the school hours. Special classes are being held to train the visually impaired students regarding use of writer to appear in the examination. It may be noted that the examination centre superintendents arrange writers from lower class for these special students. ‘We are training them how to check whether the writer is writing what is being dictated or not,” said Mr Rao.

According to students of class X like Debasish Sahu and Manisha Baithal, at present they are trying to spend as much time for their studies. They get up in their hostel rooms at 4.30 am and sit for studies from 5 am. They attend classes in school from 10 am to 4 pm. After that teachers hold special classes for doubt clearance. In the evening we they for studies 6.30 pm and continue to study till 11 pm with breaks for dinner and entertainment, Mr. Rao said.

The school authorities would also contact the centre superintendent so that proper students are chosen to become writers for the visually impaired students.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/visuallychallenged-candidates-put-in-extra-effort-for-bse-exams/article5708468.ece