Sorry was travelling. 9821013644 preferably after 9pm. Kanchan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rohiet A. Patil" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 08, 2007 23:15 Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent
> dear kanchan madum! > I would like to talk with you personally on this matter. Can you mail me > your cell number of list? PLS mail me on [EMAIL PROTECTED] or > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > thanks and regards, > Rohiet Patil > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pamnani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:53 PM > Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > > >> Vetry I have taken the suggestion of the talking calculator as point d. >> in >> clause 8 >> the first point of computer malfunction I dont know what to do about it. >> I have mentioned the UPS and the Scribe and 2 printers and 2 computers. >> and >> the extra time >> Any other suggestio is welcome in case the above mentioned is not enough. >> n >> Kanchan Pamnani >> Advocate & Solicitor >> 9, Suleman Chambers, >> Battery Street, Colaba, >> Mumbai - 400 039. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Vetrivel Adhimoolam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "pamnani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:56 AM >> Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent >> >> >>> Hello Kanchan, >>> >>> It is certainly a well drafted policy. It pretty much covers everything. >>> But >>> a couple of suggestions though: The policy also should include >>> sufficient >>> guidelines describing what should be done in the event of certain delays >>> as >>> the result of computer problems or the malfunctioning of the software. >>> Because things can go wrong on that front and visually challenged >>> candidates >>> should not suffer as the result of such issues. So in my view, the >>> software/hardware requirements should be amended to be inclusive of this >>> issue. Second, visually impaired candidates are also increasingly >>> appearing >>> on various exams that require solving of extensive mathematical >>> problems. >>> Some of those exams may actually allow regular students to use >>> calculator >>> and in such circumstances, visually challenged candidates also should be >>> allowed to bring talking calculator in to the examination hall. >>> >>> Vetri. >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: pamnani >>> To: [email protected] >>> Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:04 PM >>> Subject: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent >>> >>> >>> >>> Hi Friends >>> Have drafted a Policy for Examinations of the Visually disabled in India >>> thanks to the input from Anjali, Asif, Dipendra, Harish, Ketan, Neha, >>> Pranav, Rajesh, Sam and SGS Sisodia and numerous others who helped when >>> the >>> Maharashtra Guidelines were being framed. >>> >>> >>> >>> Please let me have your comments on this draft urgently and no later >>> than >>> this evening. I need to send it to the Disability commission. >>> thanks Kanchan >>> >>> >>> Policy for Examination of the Visually Disabled >>> >>> >>> The need for a standard and comprehensive Policy throughout India for >>> the >>> examination of the Visually Disabled has been growing since: >>> >>> >>> >>> a.. Every year more and more Visually Disabled candidates are appearing >>> for various examinations. >>> b.. Number of examining bodies has been increasing over the years >>> >>> >>> a.. Various orders/judgments/directions have been passed by various >>> Courts/Commissions/Authorities and deal with the problem in piecemeal. >>> >>> >>> a.. Various examination conducting authorities have different rules >>> and/or >>> implement the rules in different ways. >>> >>> >>> a.. Technology is improving and needs to be taken into account >>> >>> >>> a.. The anxiety suffered by the examinees before and during the >>> examination has to be removed >>> >>> >>> a.. Questions asked at written examinations and the examinations >>> themselves are varied and need to be answered in various ways. >>> >>> >>> a.. Competition is increasing and the Visually Disabled have to be >>> given >>> a >>> level playing field >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> This Policy will apply to all examinations being conducted in India >>> generally and specifically to examinations conducted by Educational >>> institutions- schools and colleges (both internal and external), School >>> and >>> College Boards, universities and deemed universities, autonomous bodies >>> conducting entrance or promotional examinations as well as all >>> recruiting/promoting authorities and any other authorities or bodies >>> under >>> which a Visually Disabled examinee wishes to appear for an examination >>> for >>> any purpose whatsoever. The paramount purpose of the Policy is to >>> alleviate >>> the hardship being caused to the Visually disabled candidate due to >>> uncertainty in policy and to mitigate the effects of a disability. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 1. Scribe >>> >>> >>> a. The Visually Disabled candidate must be allowed the use of a Scribe >>> who >>> will read the question papers and write/type the answers dictated by the >>> Visually disabled candidate. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. Since one of the important factors while doing an examination is >>> speed, >>> adequate practice is necessary, Visually Disabled persons should be >>> allowed >>> to use the services of a scribe of his/her own choice. The Visually >>> Disabled >>> candidate may however request the Examining authority to provide a >>> Scribe. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The discretion to arrange for his/her own Scribe or to be provided by >>> a >>> Scribe by the Examining Authority is with the candidate alone. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. No other restriction other than those mentioned in Clauses 3 or 4 >>> herein >>> below should be imposed on the selection of a scribe. >>> >>> >>> >>> e. It is desirable that the candidate and the scribe are from the same >>> stream. >>> >>> >>> 2. Examination Form/Application >>> >>> >>> a. All Application Forms/Advertisements for exams should mention that a >>> Visually Disabled candidate will be allowed the use of a Scribe and >>> alternative formats will be provided. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. The examining authority should give a clear option in the >>> advertisement >>> itself whether the examinee wishes the scribe to be provided by the >>> examination conducting body or he/she wishes to arrange the scribe on >>> his/her own. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The Examining authority at the time of advertisement/application >>> should >>> also print the criteria/qualification for scribe to be followed. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. The application form should have a provision asking low vision >>> persons >>> to >>> indicate the requirement of question paper in large print. The >>> advertisement for examination as well as the application form should >>> also >>> clearly mention that the low vision persons would be allowed the use of >>> magnifying glass. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 3. Scribes chosen by Candidate >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> a. In case the candidate avails the services of his/her own >>> scribe/writer, >>> the scribe/writer should be one grade junior in academic qualification >>> than the candidate if from the same stream. However, this condition >>> shall >>> not apply if the scribe/writer is from a different stream. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. For competitive examinations the scribe needs to be one level below >>> the >>> eligibility criteria of the competitive exam in consideration. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. For internal exams of schools and colleges the condition of the >>> scribe >>> being one grade junior in academic qualification than the candidate >>> should >>> not be enforced strictly as this would cause undue hardship to the >>> candidate >>> and give rise to unviable solutions. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 4. Scribes provided by Examining Authorities >>> >>> >>> >>> a. Considering the practical problems, it is necessary that even if the >>> scribe is provided by the examination conducting authorities, at the >>> request >>> of examinee, such authorities must ensure the competence of the >>> scribe/writer. If the scribe is provided by the examining authorities, >>> it >>> should be ensured that the scribe is adequately qualified to understand >>> the >>> questions and to explain them to the candidate. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. To ensure the competence of such a scribe provided, the following >>> conditions should be adhered to: >>> >>> >>> >>> i. as far as possible and practical, the scribe >>> himself/herself >>> should be a current student; >>> >>> >>> >>> ii. In any case, the time interval between when such a scribe >>> ceased to be a student himself/herself and the time he/she is acting as >>> a >>> scribe should not be more than three years, because with the lapse of >>> time, >>> natural abilities of a student like writing speed, taking dictation and >>> writing an examination efficiently in a specified time frame, suffer a >>> considerable decline. However strict adherence to this requirement >>> cannot >>> be >>> stretched beyond a logical point. >>> >>> >>> >>> iii. The medium of instruction of the scribe in his/her studies >>> should essentially be, or have been, the same as the examinee. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> iv. Scribe should, as far as possible, belong to the same stream >>> as >>> the examinee. >>> >>> v. In cases where the scribe is provided by exam conducting >>> bodies >>> at the request of the examinee, she/he should not have scored below 55% >>> marks in the last exam. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The examining body should identify the scribes/writers and make the >>> panels at district/Division or state level as per requirement of >>> examination. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. The Panels of scribe should be as per requirement of the >>> stream/discipline eg. Arts, Commerce, Science & Mathematics, >>> Engineering, >>> Medical etc. and only eligible scribes should be included in the panel. >>> >>> >>> >>> 5. Supervision >>> >>> >>> >>> Any attempt at cheating and other malpractices can be curbed by ensuring >>> proper supervision and vigilance by the invigilators. This is the >>> responsibility of the Examining Authority. No restrictions should be >>> imposed >>>on the choice of a scribe by a candidate on this account. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 6. Additional time >>> >>> a. The facility of Additional time must be allotted to >>> all >>> Visually Disabled candidates appearing for examinations in any format >>> with >>> or without the use of a Scribe. >>> >>> b. For a written test of duration of 1 hour at least 20 >>> minutes extra time should be allotted. >>> >>> c. Similarly For written tests involving more than one >>> or >>> less than one hour extra time should be worked out on the basis of 20 >>> minutes per one hour criteria. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 7. Arrangements at the Examination >>> >>> >>> >>> a. Proper sitting arrangement should be made before commencement of the >>> examination so as to avoid confusion and distraction. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. Sitting arrangements for the disabled candidates should be made on >>> the >>> ground floor, as far as possible. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. Refreshments, if any to scribes/writers should either are served >>> before >>> or after the examination and not during the examination. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. The Chief invigilator of the examination center should have >>> discretionary >>> powers to accept last minute change of scribes under exigencies. >>> >>> >>> >>> e. Considering the fact that many exams are held in overlapping >>> schedules >>> and also the fact that the scribes may not be free/willing to commit >>> themselves for the entire duration of exam or examination of various >>> languages, more than one person may be permitted to write different >>> papers >>> for the same examination, provided they fulfill all other conditions >>> laid >>> down in clauses 3 or 4 above. For enacting such a change in scribes for >>> different papers, the ground of contingency should not be a mandatory >>> requirement. >>> >>> >>> >>> f. The letter approving the scribe should contain the following >>> information >>> in writing: >>> >>> i. The extra time given to the candidate >>> >>> ii. He shall be seated separately >>> >>> iii. Contact address and phone number of competent authority should also >>> be >>> printed for last minute change of scribe. >>> >>> >>> >>> g. To minimize the need for last minute change in the scribe and in view >>> of >>> (e) above, a collective sanction letter may be issued, sanctioning >>> multiple >>> scribes proposed by the examinee, so that any of them may be called upon >>> to >>> act as the scribe in any particular paper, without the hassle of >>> formalities >>> involved in changing the scribe at the eleventh hour. >>> >>> >>> >>> h. Candidate, scribe and supervisor should be provided with full >>> information >>> about the duration of the examination. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> 8. Aids and appliances >>> >>> >>> >>> a. a. All Visually Disabled candidates may be allowed to carry special >>> mathematical aids such as Taylor's frame or abacus as they have no other >>> way >>> of calculating sums. Neither abacus nor Taylor's frame calculate the >>> sums >>> but are mere aids such as a paper for candidates with vision. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. in papers such as accounts the visually disabled candidate may be >>> allowed >>> to carry Braille slates and papers for writing the numbers as it is >>> difficult to remember the balance sheets >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The visually disabled candidate should also be allowed to use >>> optical/ >>> electronic low vision aids such as magnifying glass; >>> >>> >>> >>> 9. Alternative Formats >>> >>> >>> >>> a. In addition to the facility of a scribe the Visually Disabled >>> candidates >>> have the facility to write answers in Braille or on a computer or a >>> typewriter or may ask for question paper in large font. >>> >>> b. The answer paper in Braille should be evaluated by the >>> expert/examiners >>> in Braille script. If possible the question paper may be provided in >>> Braille >>> or in digital text. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The font size of the question paper should not be less than 20 for >>> the >>> benefit of low vision candidates. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. Considering the developments in technology, all examination >>> conducting >>> bodies should facilitate the use of computers for taking the exams by >>> the >>> visually Disabled examinees, if the candidate so desires. >>> >>> e. Visually Disabled candidates appearing for "Open book Exams may be >>> provided the texts of such books in Braille, in digital format on the >>> computer or in large text at the choice of the candidate. >>> >>> 10. Alternative Questions >>> >>> a. Alternative questions must be provided in cases where the original >>> question contains visual elements and/or require the candidate to >>> interpret >>> or produce such visual elements. However the candidate may elect to >>> answer >>> the original question. >>> >>> >>> >>> b. Wherever possible, the visual graphs should be supplemented by >>> descriptive explanation of the graphs for visually Disabled candidates. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. For practical exams the Visually Disabled candidate must be allowed >>> the >>> help of a laboratory assistant to conduct the experiment and or be >>> provided >>> alternative oral questions in place of the experiment to be conducted. >>> >>> >>> >>> 11. Examination on Computers >>> >>> a. Visually Disabled candidates can appear in examination on the >>> computer >>> only if students are computer literate and can type at least at the >>> speed >>> of >>> 30 words per minute. The software and hardware is now available to make >>> students write their examinations both in Hindi and English mediums >>> >>> >>> >>> b. This form of examination is preferable than the use of scribes due to >>> the >>> following reasons: >>> >>> >>> >>> i. High payments being demanded by Scribes >>> >>> ii. Wasting crucial time just before the examinations just to look for >>> scribes. >>> >>> iii. Sexual harassment of girl students. >>> >>> iv. Losing marks due to mistakes of scribes or casual attitude of >>> scribes. >>> >>> v. Week students getting away with good marks by making their scribes >>> write >>> answers to questions that they do not know. >>> >>> >>> >>> c. The use of computers for examination does not mean that a scribe to >>> read >>> the question paper is dispensed with. However the candidate may not >>> require >>> a sighted person and dispense with the same. >>> >>> >>> >>> d. The responsibility to bring a computer is not on the student/ >>> candidate. >>> The centre/ Examining authority shall spare one of its own Computers for >>> the >>> exam. >>> >>> >>> >>> e. However if it is feasible then the candidate may be allowed to use >>> his >>> own computer. This may be decided by the candidate and the examining >>> authority mutually. >>> >>> >>> >>> f. the only responsibility that a student aspiring to give exam on >>> computer >>> has, is to bring the screen reading software. >>> >>> >>> >>> g. The candidate should be allowed to install the screen reading >>> software >>> a >>> day in advance on the computer provided with printer installed >>> >>> h. recommended Equipment preparation: >>> >>> >>> >>> i. For each candidate appearing in the examination two computers may be >>> set >>> up for this purpose. One for writing the examination and one as stand-by >>> in >>> case of any failure in the machine. >>> >>> ii. The computer must have the following software installed: >>> >>> >>> >>> A. MS Office >>> >>> B. Page maker 6 >>> >>> C. Jaws for windows screen reading software. >>> >>> >>> >>> iii. The medium of examination for the student can be in English or >>> Hindi >>> . >>> >>> iv. All the data on the Computer must be password protected using the >>> utility software called Folder Access. This software can make any folder >>> access limited by password. >>> >>> >>> >>> 6.. UPS with back-up of 2 hours must be installed at the centre. >>> 7.. Vi. Two printers may be kept for taking the final print-outs of the >>> answer sheets. >>> >>> >>> i. Recommended procedure for examination: >>> >>> >>> >>> i. The computer centre or the library may be designated as one of the >>> examination centres for conducting the examination. >>> >>> >>> >>> ii. Question paper must be sent to this Centre on a CD. >>> >>> iii. The question paper may be sent in the page-maker file format. >>> >>> iv. The paper then requires to be converted into a MS word file. The >>> original file may be opened in the page maker software. Each page of the >>> question paper must be copied and pasted in the MS word document. >>> >>> v. if the candidate is appearing in English Medium, the Jaws software >>> may >>> speak gibberish where Hindi text appears, all Hindi language text must >>> be >>> deleted from the question paper. >>> >>> vi. This MS word file must be password protected. >>> >>> vii. Answer sheet- One blank MS-word document may be created on the >>> Computer >>> and shortcut to this may be created on the desk-top. This blank document >>> must have the paper size and margins set according to the extension >>> sheets >>> of the answer sheet on which the final print-out will be taken. Viii. >>> The >>> role-number and other details of the candidate must be filled on the >>> original sheet by the invigilator using normal pen. These extension >>> sheets >>> must be stapled with each sheet of the original answer sheet. Each sheet >>> must be signed by the invigilator. >>> >>> >>> >>> 8.. The candidate must be allowed to have access to the Computer 10 >>> minutes before the start of examination time. >>> 9.. X. At the time of start of examination, the password for the >>> question >>> paper file must be told to the candidate. >>> 12. Other Disabled Candidates >>> >>> >>> >>> Although the aforesaid guidelines are specifically for Visually disabled >>> candidates these guidelines may be used by the Examining authorities >>> while >>> conducting examinations for other candidates suffering from disability >>> whether permanent or temporary. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> with >>> the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please >>> visit the list home page at >>> >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> with the subject unsubscribe. >>> >>> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >>> please visit the list home page at >>> >>> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>> >> >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please visit the list home page at >> >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.9/1155 - Release Date: >> 11/27/2007 8:30 PM >> >> > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
