Hi this is being drafted for India and not for a particular State. You need to spread the word if we succeed. Kanchan Kanchan Pamnani Advocate & Solicitor 9, Suleman Chambers, Battery Street, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 039.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 10:58 AM Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > Hai Kanchan: > > Your work is certainly commendable. In fact, I was also thinking on the > same lines as Vetri as I was going through the draft and perhaps, if > there is a possibility, organisations can conduct trial tests much > before the original tests and make candidates acclimatize with the > system. I found talking calculators to be a good suggestion as well, in > the event of students attending complex calculation-based tests. > > By the way, I also feel organisations in Karnataka and other states must > take this up as a precedence and ask for a similar policy for visually > challenged candidates. Hope someone takes the cue. > > Warm rgds, > > Subramani > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Vetrivel > Adhimoolam > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 8:56 AM > To: pamnani; accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > > Hello Kanchan, > > It is certainly a well drafted policy. It pretty much covers everything. > But > a couple of suggestions though: The policy also should include > sufficient > guidelines describing what should be done in the event of certain delays > as > the result of computer problems or the malfunctioning of the software. > Because things can go wrong on that front and visually challenged > candidates > should not suffer as the result of such issues. So in my view, the > software/hardware requirements should be amended to be inclusive of this > > issue. Second, visually impaired candidates are also increasingly > appearing > on various exams that require solving of extensive mathematical > problems. > Some of those exams may actually allow regular students to use > calculator > and in such circumstances, visually challenged candidates also should be > > allowed to bring talking calculator in to the examination hall. > > Vetri. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: pamnani > To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 9:04 PM > Subject: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > > > > Hi Friends > Have drafted a Policy for Examinations of the Visually disabled in India > > thanks to the input from Anjali, Asif, Dipendra, Harish, Ketan, Neha, > Pranav, Rajesh, Sam and SGS Sisodia and numerous others who helped when > the > Maharashtra Guidelines were being framed. > > > > Please let me have your comments on this draft urgently and no later > than > this evening. I need to send it to the Disability commission. > thanks Kanchan > > > Policy for Examination of the Visually Disabled > > > The need for a standard and comprehensive Policy throughout India for > the > examination of the Visually Disabled has been growing since: > > > > a.. Every year more and more Visually Disabled candidates are > appearing > for various examinations. > b.. Number of examining bodies has been increasing over the years > > > a.. Various orders/judgments/directions have been passed by various > Courts/Commissions/Authorities and deal with the problem in piecemeal. > > > a.. Various examination conducting authorities have different rules > and/or > implement the rules in different ways. > > > a.. Technology is improving and needs to be taken into account > > > a.. The anxiety suffered by the examinees before and during the > examination has to be removed > > > a.. Questions asked at written examinations and the examinations > themselves are varied and need to be answered in various ways. > > > a.. Competition is increasing and the Visually Disabled have to be > given a > level playing field > > > > > This Policy will apply to all examinations being conducted in India > generally and specifically to examinations conducted by Educational > institutions- schools and colleges (both internal and external), School > and > College Boards, universities and deemed universities, autonomous bodies > conducting entrance or promotional examinations as well as all > recruiting/promoting authorities and any other authorities or bodies > under > which a Visually Disabled examinee wishes to appear for an examination > for > any purpose whatsoever. The paramount purpose of the Policy is to > alleviate > the hardship being caused to the Visually disabled candidate due to > uncertainty in policy and to mitigate the effects of a disability. > > > > > > 1. Scribe > > > a. The Visually Disabled candidate must be allowed the use of a Scribe > who > will read the question papers and write/type the answers dictated by the > > Visually disabled candidate. > > > > b. Since one of the important factors while doing an examination is > speed, > adequate practice is necessary, Visually Disabled persons should be > allowed > to use the services of a scribe of his/her own choice. The Visually > Disabled > candidate may however request the Examining authority to provide a > Scribe. > > > > c. The discretion to arrange for his/her own Scribe or to be provided by > a > Scribe by the Examining Authority is with the candidate alone. > > > > d. No other restriction other than those mentioned in Clauses 3 or 4 > herein > below should be imposed on the selection of a scribe. > > > > e. It is desirable that the candidate and the scribe are from the same > stream. > > > 2. Examination Form/Application > > > a. All Application Forms/Advertisements for exams should mention that a > Visually Disabled candidate will be allowed the use of a Scribe and > alternative formats will be provided. > > > > b. The examining authority should give a clear option in the > advertisement > itself whether the examinee wishes the scribe to be provided by the > examination conducting body or he/she wishes to arrange the scribe on > his/her own. > > > > c. The Examining authority at the time of advertisement/application > should > also print the criteria/qualification for scribe to be followed. > > > > d. The application form should have a provision asking low vision > persons to > indicate the requirement of question paper in large print. The > advertisement for examination as well as the application form should > also > clearly mention that the low vision persons would be allowed the use of > magnifying glass. > > > > > > 3. Scribes chosen by Candidate > > > > > > a. In case the candidate avails the services of his/her own > scribe/writer, > the scribe/writer should be one grade junior in academic qualification > > than the candidate if from the same stream. However, this condition > shall > not apply if the scribe/writer is from a different stream. > > > > b. For competitive examinations the scribe needs to be one level below > the > eligibility criteria of the competitive exam in consideration. > > > > c. For internal exams of schools and colleges the condition of the > scribe > being one grade junior in academic qualification than the candidate > should > not be enforced strictly as this would cause undue hardship to the > candidate > and give rise to unviable solutions. > > > > > > 4. Scribes provided by Examining Authorities > > > > a. Considering the practical problems, it is necessary that even if the > scribe is provided by the examination conducting authorities, at the > request > of examinee, such authorities must ensure the competence of the > scribe/writer. If the scribe is provided by the examining authorities, > it > should be ensured that the scribe is adequately qualified to understand > the > questions and to explain them to the candidate. > > > > b. To ensure the competence of such a scribe provided, the following > conditions should be adhered to: > > > > i. as far as possible and practical, the scribe > himself/herself > should be a current student; > > > > ii. In any case, the time interval between when such a scribe > ceased to be a student himself/herself and the time he/she is acting as > a > scribe should not be more than three years, because with the lapse of > time, > natural abilities of a student like writing speed, taking dictation and > writing an examination efficiently in a specified time frame, suffer a > considerable decline. However strict adherence to this requirement > cannot be > stretched beyond a logical point. > > > > iii. The medium of instruction of the scribe in his/her studies > should essentially be, or have been, the same as the examinee. > > > > > > iv. Scribe should, as far as possible, belong to the same stream > as > the examinee. > > v. In cases where the scribe is provided by exam conducting > bodies > at the request of the examinee, she/he should not have scored below 55% > marks in the last exam. > > > > c. The examining body should identify the scribes/writers and make the > panels at district/Division or state level as per requirement of > examination. > > > > d. The Panels of scribe should be as per requirement of the > stream/discipline eg. Arts, Commerce, Science & Mathematics, > Engineering, > Medical etc. and only eligible scribes should be included in the panel. > > > > 5. Supervision > > > > Any attempt at cheating and other malpractices can be curbed by ensuring > > proper supervision and vigilance by the invigilators. This is the > responsibility of the Examining Authority. No restrictions should be > imposed > on the choice of a scribe by a candidate on this account. > > > > > > 6. Additional time > > a. The facility of Additional time must be allotted to > all > Visually Disabled candidates appearing for examinations in any format > with > or without the use of a Scribe. > > b. For a written test of duration of 1 hour at least 20 > > minutes extra time should be allotted. > > c. Similarly For written tests involving more than one > or > less than one hour extra time should be worked out on the basis of 20 > minutes per one hour criteria. > > > > > > 7. Arrangements at the Examination > > > > a. Proper sitting arrangement should be made before commencement of the > examination so as to avoid confusion and distraction. > > > > b. Sitting arrangements for the disabled candidates should be made on > the > ground floor, as far as possible. > > > > c. Refreshments, if any to scribes/writers should either are served > before > or after the examination and not during the examination. > > > > d. The Chief invigilator of the examination center should have > discretionary > powers to accept last minute change of scribes under exigencies. > > > > e. Considering the fact that many exams are held in overlapping > schedules > and also the fact that the scribes may not be free/willing to commit > themselves for the entire duration of exam or examination of various > languages, more than one person may be permitted to write different > papers > for the same examination, provided they fulfill all other conditions > laid > down in clauses 3 or 4 above. For enacting such a change in scribes for > different papers, the ground of contingency should not be a mandatory > requirement. > > > > f. The letter approving the scribe should contain the following > information > in writing: > > i. The extra time given to the candidate > > ii. He shall be seated separately > > iii. Contact address and phone number of competent authority should also > be > printed for last minute change of scribe. > > > > g. To minimize the need for last minute change in the scribe and in view > of > (e) above, a collective sanction letter may be issued, sanctioning > multiple > scribes proposed by the examinee, so that any of them may be called upon > to > act as the scribe in any particular paper, without the hassle of > formalities > involved in changing the scribe at the eleventh hour. > > > > h. Candidate, scribe and supervisor should be provided with full > information > about the duration of the examination. > > > > > > > > 8. Aids and appliances > > > > a. a. All Visually Disabled candidates may be allowed to carry special > mathematical aids such as Taylor's frame or abacus as they have no other > way > of calculating sums. Neither abacus nor Taylor's frame calculate the > sums > but are mere aids such as a paper for candidates with vision. > > > > b. in papers such as accounts the visually disabled candidate may be > allowed > to carry Braille slates and papers for writing the numbers as it is > difficult to remember the balance sheets > > > > c. The visually disabled candidate should also be allowed to use > optical/ > electronic low vision aids such as magnifying glass; > > > > 9. Alternative Formats > > > > a. In addition to the facility of a scribe the Visually Disabled > candidates > have the facility to write answers in Braille or on a computer or a > typewriter or may ask for question paper in large font. > > b. The answer paper in Braille should be evaluated by the > expert/examiners > in Braille script. If possible the question paper may be provided in > Braille > or in digital text. > > > > c. The font size of the question paper should not be less than 20 for > the > benefit of low vision candidates. > > > > d. Considering the developments in technology, all examination > conducting > bodies should facilitate the use of computers for taking the exams by > the > visually Disabled examinees, if the candidate so desires. > > e. Visually Disabled candidates appearing for "Open book Exams may be > provided the texts of such books in Braille, in digital format on the > computer or in large text at the choice of the candidate. > > 10. Alternative Questions > > a. Alternative questions must be provided in cases where the original > question contains visual elements and/or require the candidate to > interpret > or produce such visual elements. However the candidate may elect to > answer > the original question. > > > > b. Wherever possible, the visual graphs should be supplemented by > descriptive explanation of the graphs for visually Disabled candidates. > > > > c. For practical exams the Visually Disabled candidate must be allowed > the > help of a laboratory assistant to conduct the experiment and or be > provided > alternative oral questions in place of the experiment to be conducted. > > > > 11. Examination on Computers > > a. Visually Disabled candidates can appear in examination on the > computer > only if students are computer literate and can type at least at the > speed of > 30 words per minute. The software and hardware is now available to make > students write their examinations both in Hindi and English mediums > > > > b. This form of examination is preferable than the use of scribes due to > the > following reasons: > > > > i. High payments being demanded by Scribes > > ii. Wasting crucial time just before the examinations just to look for > scribes. > > iii. Sexual harassment of girl students. > > iv. Losing marks due to mistakes of scribes or casual attitude of > scribes. > > v. Week students getting away with good marks by making their scribes > write > answers to questions that they do not know. > > > > c. The use of computers for examination does not mean that a scribe to > read > the question paper is dispensed with. However the candidate may not > require > a sighted person and dispense with the same. > > > > d. The responsibility to bring a computer is not on the student/ > candidate. > The centre/ Examining authority shall spare one of its own Computers for > the > exam. > > > > e. However if it is feasible then the candidate may be allowed to use > his > own computer. This may be decided by the candidate and the examining > authority mutually. > > > > f. the only responsibility that a student aspiring to give exam on > computer > has, is to bring the screen reading software. > > > > g. The candidate should be allowed to install the screen reading > software a > day in advance on the computer provided with printer installed > > h. recommended Equipment preparation: > > > > i. For each candidate appearing in the examination two computers may be > set > up for this purpose. One for writing the examination and one as stand-by > in > case of any failure in the machine. > > ii. The computer must have the following software installed: > > > > A. MS Office > > B. Page maker 6 > > C. Jaws for windows screen reading software. > > > > iii. The medium of examination for the student can be in English or > Hindi . > > iv. All the data on the Computer must be password protected using the > utility software called Folder Access. This software can make any folder > > access limited by password. > > > > 6.. UPS with back-up of 2 hours must be installed at the centre. > 7.. Vi. Two printers may be kept for taking the final print-outs of > the > answer sheets. > > > i. Recommended procedure for examination: > > > > i. The computer centre or the library may be designated as one of the > examination centres for conducting the examination. > > > > ii. Question paper must be sent to this Centre on a CD. > > iii. The question paper may be sent in the page-maker file format. > > iv. The paper then requires to be converted into a MS word file. The > original file may be opened in the page maker software. Each page of the > > question paper must be copied and pasted in the MS word document. > > v. if the candidate is appearing in English Medium, the Jaws software > may > speak gibberish where Hindi text appears, all Hindi language text must > be > deleted from the question paper. > > vi. This MS word file must be password protected. > > vii. Answer sheet- One blank MS-word document may be created on the > Computer > and shortcut to this may be created on the desk-top. This blank document > > must have the paper size and margins set according to the extension > sheets > of the answer sheet on which the final print-out will be taken. Viii. > The > role-number and other details of the candidate must be filled on the > original sheet by the invigilator using normal pen. These extension > sheets > must be stapled with each sheet of the original answer sheet. Each sheet > > must be signed by the invigilator. > > > > 8.. The candidate must be allowed to have access to the Computer 10 > minutes before the start of examination time. > 9.. X. At the time of start of examination, the password for the > question > paper file must be told to the candidate. > 12. Other Disabled Candidates > > > > Although the aforesaid guidelines are specifically for Visually disabled > > candidates these guidelines may be used by the Examining authorities > while > conducting examinations for other candidates suffering from disability > whether permanent or temporary. > > > > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with > the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please > visit the list home page at > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i > n > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i > n > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. 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