Guidelines for written exams for persons with disabilities : Bhubaneswar

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) would now have the discretion of opting his own scribe while appearing in examinations. 

In guidelines circulated by the State government for conducting written examination for PWDs and provision for scribe, it has been made clear that criteria like educational qualification, marks scored or other such restriction for the scribe should not be fixed.

“Instead, the invigilation system should be strengthened, so that the candidates using scribe do not indulge in malpractice like copying and cheating during examination,” the guidelines said.

Upon request by PWDs to have scribe, examination body may identify as per the requirements of examination.

“In such instances the candidates should be allowed to meet the scribe a day before examination so that the candidates get a chance to check and verify whether the scribe is suitable or not,” it says.

The guidelines has allowed the facility of scribe or reader or laboratory assistant to any person with disability of 40 per cent or more.

“There should also be flexibility in accommodating any change in scribe in case of emergency. The candidates should also be allowed to take more than one scribe for writing different papers especially for languages,” the government says.

Providing further flexibility, the guidelines say, “PWDs should be given option of choosing the mode for taking the examinations such as Braille or in the computer or in large print or even by recording the answers as the examination bodies can easily make use of technology to convert question paper in large prints, or Braille or convert Braille text in English or regional language.”

The candidates should be allowed to check computer system one day in advance so that the problems, if any in the software or system could be rectified, it says.

Candidates availing scribe would be given additional 20 minutes per hour as compensatory time.

“Proper seating arrangement should be made prior to the commencement of examination to avoid confusion or distraction during the day of examination. The time of giving the question papers should be marked accurately and timely supply of supplementary papers should be ensured,” the guidelines emphasize.

Source : The Hindu , 29th April 2013