The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education's new rule making it compulsory for students of grades IX to XII to secure 20% marks in their written examination and an aggregate of 35% to pass, might be a challenge for children with learning disabilities. Parents and schools feel that the rule will make it difficult for students who face difficulties while writing.
Why was the rule enforced?
In order to ensure that their schools record a good pass percentage, teachers would generously give more marks out of 20 in oral exams. This resulted in students scoring less marks in written tests. Hence, the board came up with the new rule, which will be applicable from the next academic year. In the written exam, students will have to score 20 per cent marks in an 80-mark paper. Though the passing mark remains the same (35 for all papers), making 20 per cent scoring compulsory in written exams has not gone down well with students who have learning disabilities.
Will students with learning disabilities get an exemption?
When asked whether the rule will be applicable for all students, Gangadhar Mhamane, chairman of the state board, said, "Till now we have decided to keep this rule for all students, no student is exempted from it."
However, an official from the state board, said, "Though the rule is decided and the circular will soon be sent to schools and colleges, we are still discussing whether to exempt children with different types of disabilities from this rule."
Don't know how they will cope, says parent
A mother of student with a learning disability said, "If students are not having exams till grade VIII, giving exams once they reach std IX will become a burden for them. On top of that, such students face difficulty in studying languages. I don't know how they will cope with such a rule. It is going to be a challenge to them."
Najma Kazi, principal, Anjuman-I-Islam's Saif Tyabji Girls' High School, Byculla, said, "Students with learning disabilities face difficulty in writing, and this rule may be a challenge for them. However, on other the hand, an autistic child may not face problems with written exams, as they have no writing problems, but face trouble communicating, which can be noticed in oral exams."
Rule shouldn't be an obstacle, says professor
While schools and parents are not very happy about the rule, Mona Gajre, professor (pediatrics) and chief of the Learning Disability Clinic, said, "Students with different disabilities are given several concessions, this rule should not be an obstacle for them."
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