MU lets student with learning disability write exams on computer

 MU lets student with learning disability write exams on computer

MUMBAI: In a first, the University of Mumbai (MU) has allowed a student with a learning disability, which makes it difficult for him to write coherently, take his semester examination on a computer instead of using pen and paper.

Kshitij Raimane, a secondyear Master of Computer Application (MCA) student at Dadar’s Navinchandra Mehta Institute of Technology and Development (NIMTD), has dysgraphia.

This year, the university allowed him to write six papers of the fourth semester exam, and six papers of previous semesters, on a computer after his mother told MU and college officials her son was lagging behind because of his inability to write properly.

“His writing is not legible. He can’t write long sentences. Being a postgraduation course, MCA has a vast syllabus and the question paper has questions that need detailed answers,” said Dr Madhuri Raimane, Kshitij’s mother. “With each passing class, it had become difficult for him to perform well in the exam,” she said. The university said this was the first time it allowed this facility for one of its own exams. Earlier, MU allowed Kirti College in Dadar to provide a computer to a student with a learning disability, but for an exam the college conducted.

Kshitij said until now, he was writing short answers, but the points were not relevant or enough for the questions. “Now, I can write as much as I want... I will also attempt all questions,” he said. MUMBAI: Colleges in the city are beginning to realise the importance of their students’ health — physical and mental — in addition to academic and extra-curricular performances, and have initiated ways of imbibing healthy living.

Matunga’s RA Podar College, for example, has a dietician to help students understand the importance of nutritious food, taken at the right time.

“Many times, especially during exams, students have fainted because of irregular sleeping hours combined with wrong intake of food. We want to ensure our students are not just smart, but also healthy when they graduate from our college,” said Sobhana Vasudevan, principal, RA Podar College.

At IIT Bombay (IIT-B), where the commute inside the vast campus can be problematic for many students (especially those who have to shuffle between classes in different buildings), a public bicycle sharing service was initiated last year. An IIT-B student said, “Not only do students get fitter, but by avoiding bikes and cars, they are also helping the environment.”

IIT-B also recently inaugurated a climbing wall inside the campus for rock-climbing and mountaineering enthusiasts.

At Vile Parle, SVKM’s Mithibai College introduced a peersupport mental health program called HOPE (Healing Our Peers through Empowerment).

“We roped in a trauma therapist to train our third-year BA and BCom students over seven sessions through the previous academic year. Now we’ve also got clinical and counselling psychologists on board,” said Rajpal Hande, principal.

The programme is aimed at making students gauge the first signs of depression and behavioural change among their classmates and help them out.

Source | Hindustan Times | 20th May 2019