The KK Handique State Open University (KKHSOU) has received a lukewarm response to its mission to provide free higher education to differently-abled and visually-impaired children. The mission was introduced last year.
KKHSOU vice-chancellor Srinath Baruah said that the poor awareness level regarding the university's mission has been the biggest hurdle in getting special children enrolled.
"Thousands of differently-abled and visually-impaired children are
deprived of a formal education at the graduation level in the state.
So, our university decided to start bachelor's preparatory programme (BPP) and bachelor of arts courses free of cost for special children from 2012-13. But KKHSOU enrolled only 22 differently-abled students and six visually-impaired students," said Baruah.
So, our university decided to start bachelor's preparatory programme (BPP) and bachelor of arts courses free of cost for special children from 2012-13. But KKHSOU enrolled only 22 differently-abled students and six visually-impaired students," said Baruah.
Though some NGOs with the help of the state government have been running schools for special children, the KKHSOU is the first to provide free higher education to them.
The state social welfare department has been imparting education up to Class X through the Government BDS Deaf and Dumb School, Guwahati, Blind School, Jorhat and Blind School, Basistha, Guwahati.
"The state government has reserved three per cent seats in government jobs for differently-abled and visually-impaired candidates. But unfortunately, parents are not responding well to us. We want such candidates to settle down in life and become self-dependent," the vice-chancellor added. The authorities of KKHSOU university recently sent a proposal to the state government for starting BPP and BA courses for the deaf and dumb children. "Our aim is to make higher education affordable and available to special children free of cost," Baruah said.
Source : TOI , 5th July 2013
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