HSC exams: Students, parents unaware of provision for older writers

The Higher Secondary Certificate HSC exam commenced yesterday with the English language paper Even though it is the first year of the new activitybased pattern of question papers the students neither found it too tough nor lengthy Moreover starting this year special students will be allowed to use older writers However it came to the fore that not many were aware about this new provisionMinutes before appearing for the first HSC paper students revise what ever they can outside an examination centre in Khar yesterday PicPradeep DhivarEarlier this month the state issued new guidelines regarding facilities to be provided for special students One of them allows using an older writer in case a special student is unable to find a younger writer or the situation demands for an older writerPrincipal speakLike students and parents even college authorities seemed to be clueless about the new provision made for special students Commenting on the issue principal of a Thanebased junior college said Colleges arenrsquot completely unaware of the new guidelines It is better that parents find younger writers or else everyone will start seeking approvals for older writers And if something goeswrong or leads to a malpractice then the axe will fall on the principals as we have been entrusted with the responsibility of approving older writersOfficial speakDattatray Jagtap chairperson State board Mumbai division said There are very few applications from students seeking approval for older writers mdash just one for the HSC exam till dateHowever it could be due to the recent issuance of new guidelines about which not many are aware Wersquoll receive more applications for the SSC exam But this doesnrsquot mean that everyone willbe allowed to use an older writer The applicant will have to furnish a strong reason for itThe bad appleOn day one of the exam a single case of dummy candidate was reported from an examination centre in BhiwandiConfirming the incident Jagtap said ldquoA case of dummy candidate was reported from an exam centre inBhiwandui following which the centre authorities wereasked to lodge a police complaint However further details are awaited as the case to us at the end of the dayrdquo Beating all oddsKoparkhairane resident Hrishikesh Haligouda affected by rickets since birth travelled to his examination centre in Vashi in his fatherrsquos arms Hrishikesh an Arts student said English is my favourite subject I am worried about other papers but not muchHrishikesh Haligouda with his father Ganapati and writerHrishikesh had scored 70 per cent in the SSC and is hoping to score better in the HSC He however is yet to decide on the future course of his higher education Speaking to midday Hrishikeshrsquos father Ganapati said Our aim is to help him get good education which makes him eligible for a government job This will help him become independent Hrishikesh is good at studies Wersquoll soon chalk out a career plan considering his physical conditionCommenting on his sonrsquos condition Ganapati said Hrishikeshrsquos bones have gone soft due to rickets mdash bone disorder that occurs due to deficiency of vitamin D His bones havenrsquot grown as per his age His hands fingers and legs have remained small This is why he cannot write on his own He has been appearing for examinations with the help of writers Ganapati said adding He used to wake up at 6 am everyday and study for 3 to 4 hours He believes studying in the morning is more effective and helps him remember his chapters betterSpeaking on the new provision of availing older writers in special cases Ganapati said We managed to find a young writer with help from his college We had no idea that even older writers are allowed Even college wasnrsquot aware of it Finding an older writer would have been much easierDown but not outFor lakhs of students nervous and tensed Sayali Jadhav has proved to be a motivation A student of C K T Junior College New Panvel Sayali appeared for the exam from an ambulance parked outside the examination centre Despite meeting with an accident in which Sayali sustained multiple fractures she refused to waste her year Following her request the board allowed Sayali to appear for the exam from an ambulance with the help of a writer Sayali has fractured her right hand right leg and pelvic girdle and has been advised complete bed restSayali Jadhav appears for the exam from an ambulance parked outside her exam centreSpeaking to midday Sayalirsquos father Ravindra said During her study leave she met with a serious accident at home She fell down the stairs and was admitted to the ICU This happened just 20 days before the exam But she was determined not to waste a year and sought help from her collegeCommenting on Sayalirsquos determination college principal Dr Narendrakumar Jadhav said Shersquos a bright student The accident was unfortunate Initially we told her to appear for the exam in July so that she doesnrsquot waste a year But she was confident about appearing in February and sought our support We immediately wrote to the board as we are aware that special arrangements can be made in special casesSayali will appear for her practical examination later under the outofturn facility offered by state board wherein students who have been unable to appear during the regular exam timetable for justifiable reasons are given a second chanceI was confident about appearing for the exam with the help of a writer I had studied sincerely for the entire year and didnrsquot want my efforts to go waste I had a chance of appearing in July but by then admissions for prestigious colleges are over said Sayali