As the exams of SSC and HSC students approach, visually impaired students face an uphill battle with unknown challenges. These students often rely on scribes to write their exams, but issues such as last-minute cancellations or lack of scribes’ availability can create additional stress. Lack of accessible study materials like braille books and audio books further complicates their exam preparation.
The Indian Express visited some schools, colleges and NGOs to understand the challenges faced by visually impaired students.
National Federation of the Blind Pune president Janardhan Kolase said that it is difficult to find a writer for students during exams. “The government also changes its guidelines every time, for that special guidelines should be set so that it is easy for our students. For example, at the time of the exam we also have to submit the author’s document to the department but if the author does not show for any reason, our students cannot take the exam.
Kolase explained how students should find authors themselves, he said, “Students themselves find authors through their friends or other contacts, which should be below a standard according to the author’s instructions, then they have to submit. their personal documents.”
Akansha Jogdand, a student of Mahilashram High School, Karve Nagar, Pune (Blind Department) shared her experience and said, “I have faced this problem, and it is not only me but many other students often face the same problem. However, our teachers help us during such times and ensure that we get writers. ” Jogdanda suggested a solution, “There should be an app or a system that lets us write our own exams so that we don’t have to go out and look for writers every time.”
Shreya Gadve, another student, said, “I have faced this problem before, when my writer canceled at the last moment and did not come. Even when writers come to help, everyone has a different mindset. Recently, I faced a situation where my writer, who was much older than me, got confused. She didn’t understand the question, and I answered based on her confusion, which cost me 8 marks.”
“These students face many challenges, last minute writers cancel and they don’t appear, due to which students go into depression, due to stress they forget what they had prepared for the exam. If they don’t get a writer, their exams will be canceled till the end,” said Shital Nikam, special teacher at Mahilashram High School, Karve Nagar, Pune. (blind department).
Nikam emphasized that society should understand blind students. She added, “We cannot do much until and unless people understand the humanity in our society and realize that we should help. It is good when they are in school, but when they go to college, it will be more difficult for them. Students take time to understand, and it is the teacher’s responsibility to help them.”
As the exams of SSC and HSC students are approaching, visually impaired students have to face unknown challenges. These students often rely on scribes to write their exams, but issues such as last-minute cancellations or lack of scribes’ availability can create additional stress. Lack of accessible study materials like braille books and audio books further complicates their exam preparation. The Indian Express visited some schools, colleges and NGOs to understand the challenges faced by visually impaired students.
Janardhan Kolase, president of the National Federation of the Blind, Pune, said the biggest challenge for students during exams was finding a difficult writer. “Government should give clear guidelines so that it is easy for our students as well. For example, during the exam we have to submit the author’s paper to the department, but if the author doesn’t show up for some reason, our students can’t take the exam.
Akansha Jogdand, a student of Mahilashram High School, Karve Nagar, Pune (Blind Department) shared her experience and said, “I have faced this problem, and it is not only me but many other students often face the same problem. However, our teachers help us during such times and ensure that we get writers. ” Jogdanda suggested a solution, “There should be an app or a system that lets us write our own exams so that we don’t have to go out and look for writers every time.”
Shreya Gadve, another student said, “Though writers come to help, everyone has different ideas. Recently, I faced a situation where my writer, who was much older than me, got confused. She didn’t understand the question, and I answered based on her confusion, which cost me 8 marks.”
“These students face so many challenges, writers cancel at the last moment, causing students to panic. Due to stress, they forget to prepare for the exam. And if they don’t find the writer, their exams are cancelled,” said Shital Nikam, special teacher (blind department) at Mahilashram High School, Karve Nagar, Pune.
Nikam urged the society to understand the suffering of blind students. He added, “Until and unless people understand the humanity in our society and realize that we need to help, there is not much we can do. It is good when they are in school, but when they go to college, it will be more difficult for them. It takes time, and it’s the teacher’s responsibility to help them.”
Nikam explained how people have to be persuaded to help with writing, “We approach students in Mahilasram hostels to arrange writers for visually impaired students. We ask for writers in the hostel, and those willing to help come forward to assist during the exam. The writer should be younger than the student he/she is assisting. If the writer hesitates, we convince them by explaining the importance of social work and encourage them to help visually impaired students. Sometimes we even have to pay a basic amount to writers, to convince them to help blind students.”
Bhumika Jadhav, a Class 12 student, highlighted how her college helps students by providing writers. She said, “When I was in class 10, I faced this problem (of unavailable writers) in the terminal exam, but in class 12 I did not have this problem. The college provides us audio books and braille books. I use audio books for my preparation. They assign 11th class students to write our exam. And when I was in the 11th grade, the Department of the Blind School of Ferguson College, Saathi Foundation, arranged writers for me. Jadhav is a student of Fergusson College, Pune.
Mahadev Manohar Sadar, who completed his BCA from BMCC College, Pune, said: “I had a programming exam, and when I was writing my answer to the writer, he wrote symbols and brackets in the words and I lost marks.
Sadar also said that many colleges do not take the responsibility of providing writers. He said, “Colleges need to take responsibility, especially since they have so many blind students. Often, blind students have to wait outside college doors to find authors, and that needs to change. If colleges are enrolling blind students, they should provide audio books and braille books.” Without these resources, it is difficult for us to study.”