SC Exam: Student with cerebral palsy allowed to use computer

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) on Tuesday allowed a Class X student with multiple disabilities to use a computer to write his exam. This is the first time that a student in the state appearing for the board exam has been allowed the use of a computer for the purpose.

Siddharth Das (20), a differently-abled student of Rochiram T Thadani School for the Hearing Impaired at Chembur suffers from cerebral palsy as well as speech and hearing impairment. Siddharth's father, Basudeb Das, and his school management wrote to the Mumbai divisional board requesting them to allow him to write his papers on a computer.

"We verified the student's case and forwarded the application and our report to the chairman of MSBSHSE in Pune. Using special powers, the chairman granted him permission," said Laxmikant Pande, chairman of Mumbai divisional board.

Basudeb said, "Despite disabilities like hearing and speech impairment, my son was keen on appearing for the SSC board exam. Siddharth can neither speak properly nor can he write as he does not have 100 per cent control over his body."

For his first paper on Tuesday, Siddharth was provided a computer at his exam centre — Loretto Convent in Chembur. "We ensured that the computer did not have any files or internet connection. He was only provided a soft copy of question paper. We instructed officials of the exam centre to print his answer paper as soon as he completed writing. A barcode was stuck on the answer paper and sent directly to the Mumbai divisional board," said Pande.

"We are thankful to the state board and the school management. Siddharth said he did well in the exam. For us, it is important that he able to take the exam, how he fares is secondary," said Basudeb.

Board officials said the decision will be beneficial for students like Siddharth. "The state board has always been student-friendly. We have allowed ailing students to write their exam from hospital beds, ambulances and even provided beds for them at exam centres in the past. So far, we allowed the use of typewriters; this is the first time we allowed computers," said Pande.

Source : The Indian Express ( 7th March 2013 )