Dear Madam, Where there is no problem of language of papers and where the candidate is unable to furnish the names of multiple scribes, he may be allowed to change a scribe in case of medical excegency and that should not be opposed by the examining authorities. It is natural that a scribe may fall ill during the long stretch of examinations. During my graduation the same case was strongly opposed by the examining authorities.
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of sweety bhalla Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:26 PM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent Kanchan! If a person brings his/her own scribe, then there is no question of percentage? It means. PL clarify. Regards ----- Original Message ----- From: Pamnani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: 29/11/2007 12:59 PM Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > Sweety my dear the 55% is not for your scribe but only for the scribe > provided by the Authority. Your Scribe is covered in clause 3 and then if > you choose not to bring your own scribe then it is the authority who will > provide a scribe with some minimum qualifications. > Kanchan Pamnani > Advocate & Solicitor > 9, Suleman Chambers, > Battery Street, Colaba, > Mumbai - 400 039. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "sweety bhalla" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007 12:30 PM > Subject: Re: [AI] Draft policy for exams urgent > > > > Moreover the scribe with 55 % marks for examinations, it is very difficult > > to get in this time. It should be at least 60%marks. Telling my own > > experience and facing problems in my dept examinations. > > Regards > > (Sweety Bhalla) > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Vetrivel Adhimoolam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: pamnani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> > > Sent: 29/11/2007 8:56 AM > > 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.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. 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