HS examinees with benchmark disabilities: AHSEC issues guidelines

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has issued guidelines for students in the category of 'persons with benchmark disabilities' appearing for the higher secondary exams in the state.

AHSEC has formulated guidelines for persons with benchmark disabilities (blindness, low vision, MR with cerebral palsy, deafness, etc.) appearing in both the first year (Class XI) and final year exams of higher secondary (Class XII). The guidelines have been prepared in accordance with the Government of India's Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016), which came into force on April 19, 2Ol7, a notification from AHSEC said.

According to the notification, persons with benchmark disabilities will be entitled to helpers (reading in class XI in the case of the class Xll examinee and class X in the case of the class Xl) and extra time of 60 minutes for a 3-hour duration and 30 minutes for a one-and-a-half hour duration for the examination. However, prior permission shall have to be obtained from the head of the institution concerned, but the supervising officers appointed by the council will examine the document, along with the identity document of the candidate and helper, on the first day of the examination.

However, the amanuensis will be of class Xl standard for the H.S. final examination and Class X or below for the HS first-year examination. The amanuensis will be decided by the examination centre-in-charge.

For the Deaf and Dumb and certain categories of physically abled candidates, they will be allowed 20 and 10 minutes of extra time per hour for each examination for 100 and 50 marks, respectively, but they will not be provided a manuensis or helper.

It has also been notified that the candidates are not required to apply to the council to avail themselves of the above-mentioned facilities. The student or candidate concerned will have to apply before the head of the institution where he or she studies with supporting documents from competent authorities or a disability certificate issued by the Social Welfare Department, state, or central government to the centre-in-charge. The centre in-charge, after verifying the documents, will arrange for facilities as applicable to the candidates, as per the provision mentioned, with intimation to the secretary or Controller of Examinations of the council. The supervising officer is required to verify the legitimacy of the provision or arrangement made for the candidate during the examination.

Moreover, the centre-in-charge has been instructed to inform the council well in advance of the examination if any of the candidates have disabilities as mentioned and to take the necessary steps for the smooth conduct of the examination.

Candidates with benchmark disabilities are also exempt from paying any examination fees or centre fees.

The candidates are instructed to submit a letter of undertaking to the centre-in-charge for using their own scribe during the examination.

Meanwhile, AHSEC has announced that HS final exams will be held in February and March 2024. Online form filling has been going on since November 1 and will continue until November 30, the last date for the process.

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