In a first, Class X boards in Assam to offer paper in Braille

Guwahati: For the first time, the Class X state board exams — beginning on Thursday — will have question paper in Braille.
This time, there are 13 blind candidates appearing for the exam from five examination centres in the state.
The general science question paper will be offered in Braille. While visually challenged candidates appearing for the boards under the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (Seba) have to appear for all six papers, the syllabus for general science and general maths they follow are different.
Seba controller of examinations Nayan Jyoti Sarmah told TOI that the board plans on introducing Braille for other papers as well. For the time being, however, the education board will continue the older system of providing the assistance of a scribe for writing the answers.
“Under the new system, blind candidates will be able to read the question papers in Braille mode and then dictate the answer to the scribe. But, since many blind schools in Assam are yet to put ample emphasis on Braille, we haven’t taken a decision to do away with the old system in place for blind candidates. If they feel hesitant to read the question papers in Braille, the scribe will read it out for them,” Sarmah said.
Introduction of the tactile reading and writing system used by the blind and visually impaired, who cannot access print materials, is aimed at boosting confidence of the candidates whose eye sight can hinder their job prospects in future.
Despite securing a 100% success rate in the matriculation exam under Seba in last 10 years, the visually impaired students of the state have struggled to get jobs, which the board’s officials attributed to a lack of expertise in Braille.
“The blind candidates, who have been appearing in the Class X state board examination conducted by Seba have been doing fairly well. None of them have failed, at least in the last 10 years. But unfortunately, their performance in the exams start declining after matriculation. This interruption can be attributed to lack of knowledge in Braille. Moreover, for blind candidates, the introduction of Braille system in the first major test of their life will also give a major impetus to their preparedness for appearing in interviews for jobs, where expertise in Braille is a must,” Sarmah said.