Indore: University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked universities across the country to make panels of scribes who would write exams on behalf of students with benchmark disabilities. In a letter addressed to registrars of varsities, UGC secretary Rajnish Jain said union ministry of social justice and empowerment prepared guidelines for conducting written exams for “persons with benchmark disabilities” and directed the varsities to take immediate action as per the guidelines.
The universities have also been directed to circulate the guidelines to constituents and affiliated colleges for compliance.
As per the guidelines, the facility of scribe/reader/lab assistant should be allowed to any person with benchmark disability.
The candidate should have the discretion of opting for his own scribe/reader/lab assistant or request the examination body for the same. The examining body may also identify the scribe/ reader/lab assistant to make panels at the district/division/ state level as per the requirements of the examination.
The candidates will be allowed to meet the scribe two days before the examination so that the candidates get a chance to check and verify whether the scribe is suitable. In case the examining body provides the scribe/reader/lab assistant, it will be ensured that qualification of the scribe should not be more than the minimum qualification criteria required for the examination. However, the qualification of the scribe/reader should be matriculate or above.
Persons with benchmark disabilities will be given, as far as possible, the option of choosing the mode for taking the examinations in Braille or in the computer or in large print or even by recording the answers as the examining bodies can easily make use of technology to convert question paper in large prints. e-text, or Braille and can also convert Braille text in English or regional languages. In case, the persons with benchmark disabilities are allowed to take examination on computer system, they will be allowed to check the computer system one day in advance so that the problems, if any in the software/system could be rectified.
