MGU gives students with special needs their due

Efforts by Mahatma Gandhi University to bring students with special needs into the regular mode of learning have started yielding results.

Of the 164 students who had applied for various undergraduate courses as part of the varsity’s online centralised allotment process last year under the quota for persons with disabilities, 27 were dyslexic.

The varsity had issued an order accommodating students with special needs in the 3 per cent seats reserved for persons with disabilities. They were admitted to the vacant seats under the said quota on completion of the centralised allotment process. The earlier regulations included only visually-challenged, orthopaedically challenged, and hearing-impaired students under the category of persons with disabilities.

More takers for BA

According to official records, BA Economics Model I and BA History Model I courses had the highest number of takers from among dyslexic students. Seven of the total 27 students with special needs had opted for the programmes.

The remaining students went for courses like B.Com Model I Finance and Taxation, B.Com Model I Travel and Tourism, BCom Model II Computer Applications, B.Com Model II Finance and Taxation, B.Com Model III Computer Applications, and B.Com Model I Computer Applications. Among those who secured admissions under the reserved category (candidates with disabilities), 25 were visually challenged; 20 hearing impaired, and over 85 were orthopaedically challenged.

The varsity’s decision to accommodate students with special needs came after it was found that seats reserved for candidates with physical disabilities had often remained vacant. The varsity rules say: “The unfilled seats under the PD [persons with disabilities] category shall be converted to grant reservation for children with special needs [CWSN]. The eligibility prescribed for physically-challenged candidates will be applicable to those with special needs as well.”