A division bench of justices V M Kanade and A K Memon, while staying the resolution for this year, directed an expert committee headed by Dr Harish Shetty to examine the resolution and come up with suggestions and recommendations by February 1.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday partially stayed the government resolution (GR) regarding allowing older writers for students with special needs during the forthcoming board exams to be held in February and March. It means that for this year, the special needs students will have to call in writers who are below their age and grade this year.
A division bench of justices V M Kanade and A K Memon, while staying the resolution for this year, directed an expert committee headed by Dr Harish Shetty to examine the resolution and come up with suggestions and recommendations by February 1.
As per the resolution issued on January 8, the government had offered revised concessions for SSC and HSC students. The special needs students were allowed to avail older writers for their board examinations. The special education experts, however, objected to the decision of providing concession of older writers for all students with special needs. Additional government pleader Geeta Shastri said the stay is limited to the concession of older writers and not to the entire resolution.
The state had annouced concessions in academics and examinations for students with special needs from Class I-IX and Class XI. Till now, only students with special needs of Classes X and XII were considered for concessions in board examinations.
The concessions were decided upon after several meetings of experts in the committee headed by Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) chairman Gangadhar Mhamane. The committee comprised officials from the education department, state board of secondary and higher secondary education and from organisations that work for special education. The concession is not just for learning-disabled (LD) students but also for spastic, autistic, mentally-challenged, thalassemic, slow learning, and other categories.
Some of the concessions for LD students
Students can get examination centres according to their convenience – either their own school or the school near their home.
Extra 20 minutes to write the examination.
20 marks grace, if failing in either one subject, or can be distributed to all subjects.
Students can get writer. If they are writing on their own and get tired in between, they can be provided a writer in between from the school.
Students who cannot take a physical training examination can drop the subject by producing a certificate from health expert and with prior permission of state board.
Students, instead of a practical examination of science and technology, can give an oral examination. The questions in oral examination will be based on practical examination.
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