Students with aural, oral impairments take first final exam under BSEK

216 students are appearing in the special board examinations this year

KARACHI:

Out of the 102 physically-challenged students enrolled for class nine final exams, 98 were present for their first paper on Tuesday at Government Pilot Girls Higher Secondary School in Nazimabad, which is the only centre for special students in the city.

At least 216 hearing- and speech-impaired students are expected to appear in the final examinations, under the Board of Secondary Education Karachi (BSEK), of class nine and Matric this year. "Every year, [around] 200 students are enrolled for the examinations and the board tries to facilitate them in terms of arrangements," BSEK chairperson Anwar Ahmed Zai told The Express Tribune. The exams are expected to end on May 20.





"The paper was easy and started on time and I am happy that I appeared in the paper," said one of the students through sign language. Another student smiled and showed the thumbs up sign when she was asked how her paper went.



To encourage the parents of special students to enrol their children in schools, the board has ended the age restriction in the examinations, said the BSEK chairperson. "Initially, the age limit was 20 years that was later extended to 25 years," he said. Zai added that the board does not charge any fee from these students for registration or examinations and they are also exempted from paying the mark sheet fee. "Their results are announced separately and a special prize distribution ceremony is held for the position holders," he said, adding that this will encourage more physically-challenged students to enrol and continue with their education without any obstacles.

Sharing the dedication and determination of the teachers, the school's principal, Yousufun Nisa Farah, said that the teachers used to face problems initially while performing duties as invigilators. However, they have learnt sign language with the passage of time. "Our school has been the centre for special examinations for more than two decades and our teachers can handle these students very easily," said Farah. She added that the board also facilitates the parents and students by personally meeting them to encourage them to continue with their studies.



All the students who are appearing in the final board examinations belong to five major schools for special children from across the city. These are the Deaf Reach School, Dewa Academy, Jahangir Siddiqui Academy for the Deaf, Anjuman Behbood-e-Samat-e-Atfal School and College for the Deaf.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2016.