The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Dyslexic students can now opt for history and music

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Friday, Jul 24, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Dyslexic students can now opt for history and music

Staff Reporter

Students of classes 1 and 2 will have only oral examinations

Dyslexic students will now be allowed to drop mathematics and general science
Students can now be certified as dyslexic by certifying agencies

— File Photo

Sweeping change: Reforms in the education system will bring relief to dyslexic children who take to cultural activities easily.

Bangalore: The Department of Public Instruction seems to have finally acknowledged the needs of dyslexic students in the State. In a recent circular, it has allowed dyslexic candidates to drop mathematics and general science and take up optional subjects such as Indian Political Science, Indian Economics, Indian History, Hindustani Music or Carnatic Music.

Also, from this academic year (2009-10), the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination marks cards of dyslexic candidates will recognise them as having Specific Learning Disability. Until now, the marks cards of such candidates recognised them as “Dyslexia/ Spastic”.

Parental pressure

K.S. Gopalan, president of the Malleswaram Dyslexia Association, who has for long been pressing for these concessions, said that the candidates can now opt for arts subjects instead of mathematics and science. “Many parents are still now aware of the concessions allowed for their wards. We want the department to include Home Science also. However, the syllabus is not ready yet and we are trying to get the same from the National Institute of Open Schooling,” he said.

The department had earlier allowed dyslexic children studying in government-recognised schools to use simple calculators during examinations and have a scribe read out the question paper to them. The department had also instructed evaluators to condone small and minute spelling mistakes, except in the case of proper nouns, nouns and pronouns.

The pattern of examination has also been changed. While students of classes 1 and 2 would have only oral examinations, those in third and fourth standards would have 75 per cent oral assessment. Students of classes 5, 6 and 7 would have 50 per cent oral and 50 per cent written assessment, while those in eighth and ninth standards would have 30 per cent oral and 70 per cent written assessment. The 10th standard students will be required to appear for an entire written examination.

Red tape

An earlier circular (issued on February 21) required that the students had to be certified as dyslexic by the district surgeon. “Many district surgeons were reluctant to issue these certificates.

The association again intervened and got the department to name a few certifying agencies. Now, NIMHANS and AIISH; any psychiatrist working in a government hospital; a clinical psychologist with a minimum M.Phil. qualification and the association, may issue these certificates,” he said.

Dyslexic students appearing for SSLC this year are required to submit the original certificate by August 6.

For the next academic year, original certificates have to be submitted on the first day of admission to class 9 and along with application for the SSLC examination.

Making changes

The marks card issued for the examination conducted in March 2009, it is specified as dyslexic/spastic. Students, who want to change this to Specific Learning Disability, should submit the original marks card with a fee of Rs. 200 payable to Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board to respective schools after which the board will issue new marks card specifying Specific Learning Disability. The Malleswaram Dyslexia Association can be contacted on Ph: 23446058, 9341919101, or mda_blr@yahoo.com

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