Kochi: Don’t be surprised if a student with learning disability scores 100 out of 100 in a CBSE examination now on. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened a Pandora's box by revising the rules for board exams for persons with disabilities. The most contentious of the new rules is that “there will be no restriction on educational qualifications, marks scored, age (of) scribe/reader/lab assistant/adult promoter” appearing for them.
The new rule has come into effect in the notification issued by the CBSE controller of examinations K. K. Choudhury on February 1, 2018, and most of the academic community is aghast at it. According to the rule that was existing till February 1, a person to be appointed as scribe for persons with disabilities “should not have obtained his/her qualifications in the same subject(s) in which the candidate shall be appearing for the examination.”
The notification issued by Mr Choudhury says that “in pursuance of the recommendations of the examination committee at its meeting held on 07.12.2017, duly approved by the Governing Body at its meeting held on 15.12.2017, the (following) amendments have been made in the examination bye-laws.” “The amendment is shocking. Now teachers or retired ones who are proficient in the particular subjects can appear for students and let them score full. It is not a healthy trend," said Maya Mohan, former principal, Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala, Kochi.
"Each system should have its own rigours, and their dilution is never an answer for any ill. If the students pass with the help of an informed scribe, they will fumble when a competitive opportunity knocks on their doors later. It is not in the interest of these dyslexic students either." Former joint commissioner of entrance examinations Dr S. Rajookrishnan said that there was no need to effect any change in the law. "That said, we need not rule out the presence of the supervisor in the examination hall, but how effectively he/she can invigilate is also another question," he said.
In the new rule, a scribe is allowed for a candidate with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 which has been made applicable in the place of the Persons with Disabilities Act in 1995. Autistic candidate also can avail a scribe. Thirdly a scribe can step in on sudden illness rendering the candidate unable to write as certified by a medical officer of the rank not lower than an assistant surgeon. Fourthly, when an accident renders a candidate unfit to write the exam as certified by a medical officer of the rank not lower than an assistant surgeon. Except for the application of the 2016 Act in place of the Act of 1995, there are no major changes on this in the new rule. Another major change is that while in the earlier rule, failure in one subject led to being placed in 'compartment' list, now a failure in 'two subjects' out of five subjects also leads to 'compartment' provided he/she qualifies in all the subjects of internal assessment.
