Yes sir, This is indeed a good suggestion as this will prevent tampering of answer sheets. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dinesh Kaushal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <accessindia@accessindia.org.in> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:17 PM Subject: Re: [AI] Policy urgent
> In the section 13.j.vi 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. > > Can we put it "Folder Access" as suggestion rather than a must? as there > might be other software which can do the same, making it to read as . > > vi All the data on the Computer must be password protected using some > utility which can protect data for a particular folder. Suggested software > is Folder Access, this software can make any folder's access restricted by > password. > > > > > Regards > Dinesh Kaushal > > blog at > dineshkaushal.blogspot.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Pamnani > Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 1:26 PM > To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Subject: [AI] Policy urgent > > > > > I hope this Policy is Ok with everyone. if not then please call me on > 9821013644 urgently. > The Policy for Examination of the Disabled > > > The Policy for the Examination of the Disabled envisages a tension free > environment for the Disabled before, during and after the Examination. > It is time that India had a comprehensive, standard but dynamic policy for > examination of the Disabled. > > > > The need for a standard and comprehensive Policy throughout India for the > examination of the Disabled has been growing since: > > > > a.. Every year more and more Disabled candidates are appearing for > various > examinations. > b.. The kind of Disability that has to be considered has also been > increasing over the years. > c.. Number of examining bodies has been increasing over the years > > > a.. Various orders/judgments/directions have been passed by various > Courts/Commissions/Authorities that 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 Disabled have to be given a level > playing field. > > > 1. Comprehensive > > > > Looking at the needs of each Disability, the Policy must cover as many > issues as possible and not leave any ambiguities and lacuna. Basically it > has to cover all questions raised by the officials of the Examining > authority who tend to harangue the candidates just before the > examinations. > > > > > 2. Flexible and Dynamic > > > > The implementers of the Policy have to be able to adapt to the situation. > There may be a need to change the Scribe at the last minute or a > Disability > may arise while the exam Schedule is on for eg. A candidate may fracture > his > hand while returning from a paper and may need the use of a Scribe for the > remaining papers. Also technology is evolving and needs to be taken into > account. The discretion of the officials of the Examining authority has to > be exercised keeping the best interest of the candidate in mind. > > This Policy must be reviewed periodically after recording the experience > of > all concerned. > > > > 3. All Examinations > > > > 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 Disabled examinee wishes to appear for an examination for any > purpose whatsoever. > > > > The categorization of exams into exams conducted by educational > institutions > and competitive exams is uncalled for. However there may be specific > requirements of each exam and these have been addressed in this Policy. > > > > 4. Need for the facility of a Scribe > > > > In a country like India which envisages for its citizen's equality of > opportunity, allows its Disabled to take exams but has denied on several > occasions its disabled examinees the use of a Scribe. This denial has let > to > anomalous situations where a visually disabled examinee has been allowed > to > appear in an examination but has not been allowed the use of the scribe > thereby effectively denying the visually disabled to appear in the > examination and better his prospects. The humanitarian and logical aspect > of > providing a facility of a Scribe should not have been required to be spelt > out however since the ground level situation is such that the Disabled > have > been discriminated against on such basic issues even this needs to be > clearly documented. > > > > 5. Entitled > > > > Categorizing of the Disabled persons who will be entitled to get the > facilities of a Scribe could be standardized to some extent. > > > > However there has to be some flexibility depending on the requirement of a > candidate. > > > > Certain disabled persons like the totaled blind would definitely need the > use of a Scribe however others may just need some adjustment or concession > example large font or adjustment of the microscope during practical exams > or > graph papers with larger squares. > > > > Therefore to make an exhaustive list of the disabled who will be allowed > use of a Scribe is not possible. The list of the disabled must be an > inclusive list and should give the examining authority discretion to > include > other persons but not to disallow persons mentioned on the list. It may > not > be proper to lay down iron clad rigid rules in terms of percent with > disability that will be allowed Scribe. > > > > Learning Disabled candidates have been allowed the use of a Scribe and > other > concessions by the State of Maharashtra. > > > > > > 6. Supervision > > > > The examining authorities are duty bound to ensure that no mal practices > like copying and cheating are indulged by candidates during the > examinations. For all examinations the responsibility of a fair and free > examination lies with the Examining Authority. The Examining Authority > evaluates the situation and decides on the number of invigilators, > supervisors and assistants. The examining authorities cannot pass on this > burden to the disabled candidate. The fetters being put on the choice of > a > scribe is unfair and reeks of chauvinism. The examining authorities must > not > be allowed to shirk their responsibility of proper invigilation onto the > candidates by restricting his choice of Scribe. Some Examining Authorities > have a practice of appointing one invigilator per candidate with special > needs; some other Examining Authorities have a special room for such > candidates and have one invigilator for the room. Some Authorities > actually > have a special Centre for such Examinees. > > > > 7. Scribe > > > > Provisions of a Scribe would not be different for competitive exam and > regular school/college exams. An examination at whatever level and for > whatever course is still a test of the knowledge and skill of an examinee. > The Scribe is a mere facilitator. > > > > Limiting a candidate's choice of a Scribe on grounds of age, capabilities, > qualifications, level of education or marks scored is actually unfair and > prejudices the candidate. It is for the Examining Authority to take care > of > supervision as stated in 6 hereinabove. > > > > The guidelines in paras 3 and 4 herein Below are to be considered only as > transitionary guidelines and as a compromise to close the matter at this > stage. These guidelines will need to be revisited as the acceptability by > the Examining Authority increases. > > > > > > Criteria of marks of the Scribe is immaterial and redundant if the > examining > authorities do their part as explained in Para 6 above. > > > > Criteria of 40% to 60% marks of a Scribe are paradoxical and arbitrary. > Paradoxical in the sense that Examining Authorities believe 40% to 60% > marks > is bad enough that the Scribe would not be unduly able to help the > candidate > while 40% to 60% is good enough that the scribe can sufficiently address > all > the requirements of a scribe. > > > > Any criteria based on the marks of a Scribe are arbitrary as there is no > uniformity in marking in the different exams conducted in India nor is > there > uniformity in marking in the different subjects being tested. Also no > study > has been conducted which recommends such a criteria > > > > Fixing cut of marks for Scribe is unfair, especially in current system > where > the students score very high marks in their secondary and senior secondary > school examination. Hence the students with 40% or 60% marks are bound to > be > weak student academically & may not be able to comprehend especially > tables > & graphs in test of reasoning, mathematical & scientific symbols and read > properly, also their language skills would be shabby leading to the > wastage > of valuable time. > > > > The discretion to choose a Scribe is always with the Candidate however for > various reasons the Candidate may turn to the Examining Authority for > assistance in this matter. The examining Authority has to provide Scribe > who can adequately take care of the problem. > > > > The Examining authority has to consider the mental capacity of the Scribe > which includes the Scribe's ability to read out questions, take dictation > and deal with situations which are fraught with tension. > > > > Change of Scribe just before the start of the exam schedule or just before > a > paper or during the paper is a possibility which the Chief Supervisor of > the > Examining Authority has to deal with. The candidate cannot be made to > suffer > for such eventualities. In case of a necessity of change of Scribe before > the Examination starts the candidate must be allowed the use of a Scribe > > > > > 8. Additional Time > > > > There is no doubt that additional time is to be given to a disabled > candidate whether using the facility of a Scribe or not. The Disabled > Candidate is slower while reading the question paper and much slower while > answering it compared to a non Disabled Candidate. While dictating to a > scribe repeating words and sentences and checking the answer sheet a lot > of > time is lost. > > > > Different educational institutions and competitive exams all over the > country have varied rules regarding this. > > > > The need for a standard policy in this regard has been felt for a long > time. > > > > > > 9. Technology > > > > The advancement in technology has to be considered and the benefits must > be > harnessed for the betterment of the Disabled. The use of technology has > given the Disabled a chance to be independent. It is time that the > Examining > authorities accept the new possibilities and facilitate its use. > > > > The Examining authorities must use the available resources of eg. Centres > at > Universities, colleges and in the community which have facilities to allow > Disabled Candidates to give their exams on the computer. Candidates may be > allowed to use their own personal computers/laptops after proper check of > the hard disc by the Examining authorities. > > The Examining Authorities have to provide other facilities like printers > and > UPS which are compatible. > > > > The software and appliances to be allowed and utilized are evolving > therefore there cannot be a fixed set and the Examining Authorities have > to > see the situation and discuss the matter with the candidates and experts > and > then permit the technology to be used. > > > > 10. Kinds of Exams > > > > There are many kinds of exams being conducted for eg. Viva, practical, > online, open book apart from the traditional written exam which now has > subjective, multiple choice and one word answers. The Policy has to be > comprehensive to deal with all such exams. > > > > 11. Certificate of Disability > > > > The Examining Authority must accept the Certificate of disability produced > by the Candidate which has been issued by the Competent Authority under > the > Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. > > > > The Examining Authority cannot ask the candidate to undergo a fresh test > every time he sits for an exam. > > > > 12. Publicity and Implementation > > > > This Policy needs to be widely publisised by all the Ministries to their > constituents as past experience has shown that the Examining Authorities > do > not believe the candidates when the candidates produce the relevant > circulars or notifications. The hassle of finding proof of the circular > should not be on the candidate. > > > > Further, after this policy comes into effect the non-implementing body > should invalidate the examination and they should reorganize the same. > This > is a deterrent to the non implementation of the Policy. > > > > 13. Disabilities > > > > Although the herein below 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. > > > > > > Policy for Examination of the Visually Disabled > > > > > > > 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. > > > > vi. While appointing a Scribe the mental capacity and maturity > level > of a scribe should be considered. > > > > C. the candidate must have a chance to meet the scribe a day before the > exam. This would ensure that the 2 get comfortable with one another. It > would also give the candidate a chance to check whether the scribe is > suitable. > > > > d. The examining body should identify the scribes/writers and make the > panels at district/Division or state level as per requirement of > examination. > > > > e. 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 30 > 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 30 > 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. Other > equipments that should be allowed include welcrove board for drawing > diagrams and drawing wheel. > > > > > > 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; > > > > d. Visually Disabled candidates must be allowed the use of a talking > calculator in examinations in which the sighted candidates are allowed to > use a calculator. > > > > 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. 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. > > > > c. 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. Examination in Braille > > > > a. The question paper may be provided in Braille or in accessible > digital text or a reader may be provided to read out the question paper. > > > > b. the Reader must be chosen based on the guidelines suggested in Paras 3 > or > 4 as suggested hereinabove. C. Services of a Braille to print transcriber > should be used to transcribe the answer sheet to normal print. > > > > c. this printed answer sheet may be sent for evaluation. > > > > d. Alternatively the answer paper in Braille should be evaluated by the > expert/examiners in Braille script. > > > > 11. Large Print > > > > a. The font size of the question paper should not be less than 20 for the > benefit of low vision candidates. However if the candidate requests for an > alternative font size or style then he may be so provided. > > > > 12. 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. > Rules > relating to Scribes in Para 3 and 4 hereinabove should apply to the > laboratory Assistant. > > > > 13. Examination on Computers > > > > a. Visually Disabled candidates can appear in examination on the computer > only if students are computer literate and can type at a reasonable speed. > 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. Access to the computer is to be given at least 20 minutes before start > of > the examination. > > > > i . in case of power failure, the time of power failure is to be noted and > the same amount of time augmented in the end time of the paper. > > > > j. 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 should be of a configuration greater than the minimum > required to support the screen reader. This is necessary since the student > will be running other software as well so system resources > > iii. must be sufficient to run the operating system, the screen reader and > other software concurrently. > > iv.The computer must have the following software installed: > > > > A. MS Office > > B. Page maker > > C. screen reading software. > > > > v. The medium of examination for the student can be in English or Hindi. > > > > vi. 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. > > > > vii. UPS with back-up of 2 hours must be installed and connected at the > centre. Enough power back-up needs to be provided for the examination > centre. > > > > viii. Two printers may be kept for taking the final print-outs of the > answer > sheets. > > > > k. Recommended procedure for examination: > > > > l. The computer centre or the library may be designated as one of the > examination centres for conducting the examination. > > > > m. Question paper must be sent to this Centre on a CD. > > > > n. question paper should be given as a computer document in MS word or htm > format. > > > > o. If question paper cannot be provided in accessible format, then a > reader > is to be provided to read out the question paper. > > > > p. if the question paper is in an inaccessible to screen reader format for > eg. page-maker file format then The paper requires to be converted into a > screen reader accessible 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. > > > > q. if the candidate is appearing in English Medium, the screen reader > software may speak gibberish where Hindi text appears, all Hindi language > text must be deleted from the question paper. > > > > r. This MS word file must be password protected. > > > > s. 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. > > > > t. The candidate must be allowed to have access to the Computer 20 minutes > before the start of examination time. > > > > u. At the time of start of examination, the password for the question > paper > file must be told to the candidate. > > > > > > > > > > 14. On line Exams > > > > All Examining Authorities conducting online exams must follow the > guidelines > stated hereinabove to the extent practicable. It is the responsibility of > the Examining Authorities to make their websites, question papers and all > other study material accessible i.E. designed and available in accessible > format. Examining Authorities must follow international rules, guidelines > and standards laid down in this behalf. The candidate must be able to do > the > exam on his own. > > Conclusion > > > > 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. > > > > > > > > > > Drafted by Kanchan Pamnani, Advocate and solicitor > > Experienced and contributed by Members of Accessindia, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Researched and Compiled by Xaviers Resource Centre for the Visually > Challenged, ST. Xaviers college, 5 Mahapalika MargMumbai > > > > Kanchan Pamnani > Advocate & Solicitor > 9, Suleman Chambers, > Battery Street, Colaba, > Mumbai - 400 039. > > > 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. > > 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 > > __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus > signature database 2882 (20080218) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > > http://www.eset.com > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. 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