The University of Mumbai has asked all its affiliated colleges to provide writers to handicapped students for their exams. On Monday, a circular issued by the varsity’s examination department was sent to various colleges, stating the college principals and authorities must provide writers and extra time to students suffering from blindness, low vision, physical handicap, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and other equivalent diseases.
The letter stated, “The college principals will give the required permission for choosing a writer. Colleges are asked to take all responsibilities of the handicapped students’ arrangements of writers.” The varsity has also requested the college authorities to provide extra time of 30 minutes for such students writing the paper.
According to Dr. S. M. Suryawanshi, Controller of Examination, MU, “The responsibilities of providing writers and extra time to handicapped students rests with the colleges henceforth.”
Every year, around 1,00,00 handicapped students appear for the final year exams of MU using a writer. Earlier, students who had to arrange for one to write their papers, had to take permissions following the protocol – starting from their own college, to the MU and then even the supervisor at the examination center. This process took a long time. Most of the times, it resulted in the students getting delayed permission. This is set to change following the varsity’s latest circular.