Hello, First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for taking up this issue on the list and getting it prepared to make it reach to the concerned judicial authorities for claiming our rights. In this regard, I would like to express my own experience.
Though my experience is bit different from the captioned subject of this threat, I would like to explore the possibilities of incorporating my situation in the present petition if fit for the cause. I am pursuing my PGDBA HRM from symbiosis center of distance learning SCDL pune. scdl conducts this course for two years comprising 21 exams and 21 assignments. All the exams and assignments are conducted online in their exam centers and assignments may be attempted online from home, office wherever student get access to the net. Since we are able to appear for these examinations independently with the help of screen readers, I have tried approaching my university by communicating via several emails, register post etc but no reply had been received as yet besides only one reply to my mail on this approach that I may be allowed to take the scribe one grade junior to my examination by producing valid academic certificate of the scribe along with photo identity proof. They did not reply anything on my request to allow me to appear for the examination with the help of screen reader. For the kind information, I am copying below my communication sent to scdl in this regard. Madam, I am a blind student pursuing PGDBA (HRM) from SCDL in the current session. My reg no. is ___. Traditionally, Blind students have been appearing in various examinations with a scribe writing for them. In other words, the blind students had to depend on others to write their examinations for them. Experiences of various stakeholders have revealed that often the eligibility conditions for the scribes work against the interest of candidates and at times incompetent scribes led to reduced grades to the brilliant students with visual impairments. However, the new technology like computers, internet & screen readers, scanning OCR to read print material etc. have greatly enabled the blind students to be independent and be sure of what they are writing. Such technology gives them autonomy and control over how they answer the exam or amends their answers etc. In light of the recent advancements and technological revolution, it would be in the interest of blind candidates that existing rules/norms on Alternate provisions for writing examinations are further evaluated, reformed and adapted to include computer aided evaluation rather than limiting it to the use of Scribe. You will appreciate Madam, that recently, the CBSE has provided options to blind and visually impaired students to write their examinations on a personal computer with screen reading software in addition to existing facility of Scribes. This initiative and development is not only in line with the increased computer skills, training end knowledge acquired by the blind and visually impaired persons but also reduces their dependence on Scribes. Though there are issues of formatting the Answers with Edit tools, capital letters, paragraphs and spellings, but I believe gradually such issues would also be resolved as the evaluators would understand the difficulties of the blind in such issues and ignore them for the purpose of evaluation. In light of above developments, I request the dynamic and right spirited management of SCDL to kindly consider extending the same facility for examinations conducted by Open Universities and for courses conducted by Distant Learning Universities. And I too, being a blind candidate be permitted to write my examination conducted by SCDL for PGDBA (HRM). Further, I request you to either make provisions of a personal computer with screen reader at the exam centre or permit me to bring my own laptop with screen reader to write my examinations. Earlier, I have communicated with the Head – Evaluation Department SCDL, Pune on the aforesaid subject and they very kindly sent in an encouraging reply however the reply though very positive did not address the issue of change in the policy on alternate provisions of writing examinations by the Blind. Hence, I do request your good self to consider my request as a viable solution that will ensure equality & independence to the blind students. An early decision on the same would greatly enable me and several others like me to avail options to use scribe or write examination with independence and comfort through computers. Thanking you, Date 18.02.2010 Yours faithfully, (Mukesh Heerachand Jain) Reg No. ___ So my question is that can we also incorporate the prayer in the petition about this case as wherever it is deemed to be practicable the university shall provide all the required support of assistive technology in giving the examination. I do aware of the pwd act provisions in this regard. Still if this prayer is incorporated there may be the chances of coming out clear cut orders from the court to implement the pwd act provisions for the university. On 8/10/11, Amit Bhatt <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Akhilesh, > > It is good that you have brought this draft for the discussion on the > list before submitting to the concern authorities; otherwise we would > have been caught up with the huge loss again! > I would also suggest you the below points: > > 1. The Scribe can be from any Stream. When the Scribe is one standard > junior than the Examinee, than there is no logic to put any other rule > as a safe guard. > See Why I am saying this because it is very simple that a person who > is pursuing graduation, for an instance, ideally he would knot know > the course of Masters or other higher classes. Therefore, we consider > that a Scribe with one standard lower than the Examinee would not > help in the examination. > 2. Again, framing out the different guidelines for those who pursuing > the course of Sanskrit and Music, like they can have the Scribe from > the same stream, but other cannot, would involve us in a huge > complications and controversy. > 3. I would strongly recommend you to exclude the below lines from your > letter/draft: > “Keeping in view the fact that permitting the visually-challenged > candidates to bring his or her own scribe may prove to be a risky > business, as few amongst us may bring and engage the scribe where the > scribe may be competent and capable enough to solve the entire NET > question paper by him or herself, we propose the following safeguards” > The above line or statement is projecting the possibility of the > cheating and words like risky and Safeguard, may give them a good > opportunity to call us cheater in the future. So lets not try to make > any statement which can trouble for us in the last. > 4. As others have advised, the age of the Writer is not at all > required to be part of our proposal. If we do so, it would involve us > in another extra liability to produce the age Certificate of the > Writer and so on. And suppose if someone has got his late Education > and he is being our Scribe, then creating age criteria would be an > injustice part of our norms. So please let us forget about age, it > doesn’t make any sense. > The fact is that the Visually Impaired examinees are seeking the > Scribes from their limited resources. Therefore, we should not create > so many barriers on our own in the path of our progress. > Kindly revise the draft and then submit it to the concern officials. > > I lost your contact number, do call me or send your number again so I > can talk to you over the phone as well. > > All the best, > > Amit Bhatt > > > On 8/9/11, akhilesh <[email protected]> wrote: >> Hello, >> We, at delhi planning to give a representation to >> UGC stating that we are not willing to accept their scribe from the >> next UGC exam. the next UGC net exam is likely to be held in >> December. I have prepared a draft, and signature campaign is on. >> >> I'm pasting the representation draft below for the suggestions and >> comments from all of you. >> Here it goes: >> >> ============= >> Dated: 05.07.2011 >> >> To, >> The chairman University Grant Commission, >> Bahadur shah zafar marg >> Delhi, Delhi – 110002 >> >> Sub: Regarding the Problem of Scribe of Visually-challenged aspirants In >> UGC >> Net >> Exams. >> >> Sir, >> With great sorrow and regret, we, the persons belonging to the >> visually-challenged community would like to draw your attention on the >> following points: >> >> 1. That the most of the times we are being provided the >> incompetent/ineligible/careless scribe during the UGC NET examination, >> and this very fact deprives us to solve even half of the question >> paper, regardless of the fact that one has worked hard and knows all >> the answers well. >> 2. For your kind consideration, Carelessness and misfeasance committed >> by the authorities appointed by UGC are being enumerated below, the >> outcome of which can easily be assessed: >> a. Hindi Medium candidates are being provided the English Medium >> scribe, and on the other hand, English medium candidates Hindi medium >> scribe; >> b. In most of the cases, Sanskrit medium students have failed even to >> solve the single question as the scribe provided by the concern >> examination centre was not able to read and write Sanskrit; >> c. There Are large amount of cases, when the visually-challenged >> candidates are forced to engage the clerical staff, and even in some >> cases D grade employees, thereby destroying our each and every >> possibilities of passing the NET exam; >> d. for Your consideration: >> i. Clerical staff don’t write our exam seriously, they keep themselves >> busy in other official works; >> ii. A large amount of visually-challenged candidates are English >> medium, and the capability and ability to read and write English of >> clerical and D grade employees would be known to you keeping in view >> the standard of NET exam. >> 3. Therefore, with great respect we propose that in any case, and >> under any circumstances the visually challenged candidates are not >> willing to engage the scribe provided by the concern authorities, >> under the UGC rules and guidelines regarding the scribe for the NET >> exam. >> 4. We also propose that new guidelines regarding the scribe must be >> issued as soon as possible so as to they could be come in effect prior >> to the next UGC net exam which is about to be held likely in the month >> of December 2011. >> 5. Keeping in view the fact that permitting the visually-challenged >> candidates to bring his or her own scribe may prove to be a risky >> business, as few amongst us may bring and engage the scribe where the >> scribe may be competent and capable enough to solve the entire NET >> question paper by him or herself, we propose the following safeguards >> that must be taken into consideration while allowing the scribe in >> this connection: >> a. The scribe must be a person who is pursuing any undergraduate >> course in any university/college recognized by UGC, subject to the >> condition that the scribe should not be of the similar course for >> which the candidate is appearing for the UGC NET exam. >> b. The candidates those who are appearing for the Sanskrit and Music >> must essentially be allowed to engage the scribe of the similar >> course, as no other person can write and read Sanskrit well keeping in >> view the standard of the UGC NET exam except the person who is >> pursuing graduation in Sanskrit, and writing the theory of music >> involves notes writing with special signs, which can not be completed >> except by the person who knows it well. >> c. At the examination hall a scribe must produce the following documents: >> i. Original copy and photocopy of the Student I.D. card; >> ii. Original copy and photocopy of the mark sheet of the >> last exam passed; >> iii. The mark sheet must clearly state the name of the examination and >> the course as stated in student I.D. card; (I.E. both must be >> co-related); >> d. In any case, The Scribe must not be above the 25 years of age; >> e. A person pursuing masters degree may also be allowed as a scribe, >> subject to the condition that he is not pursuing the similar course >> for which the candidate is appearing for the UGC net exam. >> 6. University wise list of the visually-challenged students and >> candidates are attached with this application with their complete >> names and their signatures and LTIs as the case may be. >> >> Kindly take the affirmative, concrete and quick action in this regard, >> so that we can make right use of our studies and hard work, and could >> play a vital role in the progress and prosperity of our >> society by making our future better and bright. >> >> Thanking in anticipation, >> Yours faithfully, >> >> All the visually-challenged students and candidates agreeing and >> supporting the aforesaid points in its entirety. >> >> Copy to: >> 1. Chief Commissioner For persons with disabilities; >> 2. secretary to the ministry of Human resource development; >> 3. Secretary to the ministry of social justice and empowerment. >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> 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 >> >> > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > 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 > > -- Regards, Mukesh jain Email: [email protected] Skype: mukeshja Mob: 09977165123 "Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight. " Helen Keller Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ 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
