According to the Office of the Controller of Examinations (OCE), blind students can get an assistant writer but the writing helps are not allowed to draw figures and diagrams even in subjects such as Science, Social Studies, and Environment, Health and Population.There is no system of taking exams using Braile script in SLC exam although courses taught in Braille at some schools.
"I am sorely disappointed as I have to skip questions that involve drawing maps and figures. This will surely decrease my marks and percentage in the SLC result," said Anamika Chaudhary, of Laborotary School in Kirtipur of Kathmandu.
"I was so nervous that I could not hear the questions from assistant writer, think and answer at first. But later I managed somehow," she said. "I would be more happy and comfortable if I could take my SLC exam using Braille script," she added.
Visually-impaired SLC students are provided an assistant writer, a class nine students from their school.
Kushal Neupane, 16, of Baniyatar, who is visually-impaired, gave his SLC exam Thursday. "I was not nervous. It felt as if I was appearing in an exam of a junior class," he said. "Many call SLC an iron gate. But it is not as tough as people think. After the first day of the examinations, I am more confident now," he added.
Likewise, Sagar Lama, 16, of Imadol, has been living in the Laborotary School hostel for the last few months to prepare for SLC exam. "The questions were quite easy and my exam also went well. I and my writer were provided separate seats," he said. "In today's exam, it was provided two hour and 15 minutes for others but for us like blind students got an extra one hour," he added.
There were no alternative questions for the visually-impaired students who are unable to draw maps and diagrams. Many visually-impaired students looked at such disparity as unequal treatment as they were compelled to leave the questions unanswered.
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