Help slow learners, says HC

Non-compliance of order will amount to contempt, says HC.

Coming to the aid of students with learning disabilities, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday approved a scheme for identifying slow learners and providing facilities to assist them in their school curriculum.

The scheme, which exempts students suffering from dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia from examinations in the second language, will have to be followed by all SSC, ICSE and CBSE board schools across the state. "Failure to comply with the scheme will amount to contempt of court," Justice RM Lodha and Justice NH Patil said.

The expert committee set up to frame the scheme suggested a standardised checklist for teachers to screen students not performing well. Once identified, such students will be tested for learning disabilities. Parents will then inform school principals, who will extend concessional facilities to such students. Apart from permitting 25 per cent additional time in exams, schools should take oral tests in the relevant subjects.

The committee has recommended that such students be permitted to take the help of writers during exams and use typewriters. It has also suggested that mistakes such as spelling errors, writing numbers in the wrong order, and poor diagrams should be exempted. Also, 20 grace marks can be given to such students in each subject.

The committee has also recommended compulsory awareness programmes and training for teachers to handle students with learning disabilities. Each school will be expected to maintain separate records of the progress made by such students.