There was joy and celebration on the campus of two special schools - the Indian Association for the Blind and YMCA Kamak Higher Secondary School for the Deaf - after Plus Two examination results were announced on April 19. Headmistresses of these two schools attribute the success to special training and focused coaching.
The students took exams in Tamil, English, Economics, History, Geography and Political science. While some students used scribes and audio guides for learning, others used pictorial cues and mind maps.
Assistant Headmistress A. Chermathai of Indian Association for the Blind says students are given rigorous training after being split into three groups. “Twenty students wrote the exam this year and they were divided into groups based on their past academic performance. They were made to read their lessons out loud so that they would have practice before they take the help of the scribe,” she says.
She adds that the school finishes teaching by November and revision follows till the examinations. “The highest score in the school was 494 marks and one student scored a centum in Political Science. We hope for a better performance next year,” she says.
General secretary of IAB M. Roshan Fathima says the school’s cent per cent pass has become a regular feature. “We give students talking books, laptops and braille material for learning. Since the students study at the hostel, teachers usually assist them in revising after-hours as well,” she says.
Ms. Chermathai says the students will all be heading to college. Those studying in Madurai will have access to hostel facility on campus. They are also looking for sponsorship, she says.
Headmistress of YMCA Kamak Higher Secondary School for the Deaf V. Stella Rebecca says 17 students of her school who wrote the exam used several teaching aids, mostly charts and pictures for better learning. “Our students learn best when they see and observe. We look to show them the most practical application of concepts such as banking, in person. When they go to a bank, they know exactly how it functions,” she says.
She adds that it takes about 16 days to finish a single lesson. “We compensate the lack of time by taking special classes and additional morning and evening coaching,” she says. Their correspondent Shamila Doris insists on additional coaching throughout the year and not just a few months before the exams.