Delhi University on Wednesday informed the High Court that it would
"follow in letter and spirit" the recommendations of the empowered
committee created to look into the issues regarding problems faced by
physically challenged students in the four-year undergraduate programme.
Appearing before the court of Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmad and
Justice Vibhu Bakhru, senior advocate Pinki Anand said the university
had come up with "alternative courses in History of Science and History
of Mathematics" for the visually challenged students in case they were
unable to take the compulsory papers in mathematics and science which
have been introduced for first year students in the new four-year
format. NGO Sambhavna had filed a PIL, claiming that visually challenged
students would be at a disadvantage since they would be unable to study
for the mathematics and science papers.
The University had earlier informed the court that it had formed an "empowered committee" to look into the issue and submit its recommendations.
The report of the committee, which was submitted during the hearing, also lists "affirmative measures" for physically challenged students, such as "exemption from all kinds of fees, including hostel fee, 50 per cent rebate in mess charges for students of the university, providing laptops to all students with disabilities and making Metro rides free".
"We also make it clear that a recommendation in the report mentions two alternative papers in History of Mathematics and History of Science should be implemented so that the students who have any problem with the normal courses of mathematical ability and science of life will be able to catch up," the court said in its order.
The plea filed by the NGO had said that students with visual impairment were exempted from studying science and maths after Class VIII in same cases and after Class X in most cases.
"In case the existing approved programme is implemented, such
students shall not be able to meet the requirements of the foundation
course in the first year of the four-year undergraduate programme," the
petition said.
During the hearing on Wednesday, senior advocate Anand told the
court that the science and maths courses were not "pure science and
maths" but were "geared towards developing scientific mindset and
analytical ability".
"There is no practical work requirement in the papers, so visually impaired students will not be inconvenienced," Anand said.
The lawyer also told the court that there was "plenty of time to develop the course material" and that "adaptive devices and methods of instruction" were being developed to ensure that the physically challenged students do not suffer any disadvantage.
The University has also informed the court that it would provide laptops with non-visual desktop access (NVAD) software to all visually impaired students so that they do not fall behind in their education. "Visually impaired students would be able to cope with study with the help of technology, peer tutoring and reading material available," Anand said.
Source : The Indian Express , 4th July 2013
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