The atmosphere is surcharged with joy in the Bhanwari Devi Saraogi Government Higher Secondary School for Hearing Impaired, Guwahati; Srimanta Sankar Mission Blind High School, Nagaon; Guwahati Blind High School, and the Jorhat Blind Institute. These schools, thanks to their students and dedicated teachers, have bucked the trend and achieved cent percent results in the HSLC Examinations despite a less than impressive performance by schools across the State.
The stars for these schools are Dipesh, Salma, Laxman, and Junmoni and many more like them. The world has changed, albeit for some time, for these students as well. They have passed the first major hurdle in their life at a time when the ‘privileged’ majority have fallen by the wayside in lakhs.
These students despite physical, mental and societal challenges confronting them, day in and day out, have never succumbed.
Data from Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) reflect their pass percentage at nearly 78%. These students, too, had their share of Covid-induced lockdowns, online classes and its resultant issues but facilitated by the intervention of their teachers, parents and technology, they have made this Herculean task look easy.
“The Government of Assam, Sarba Siksha Abhijan and the Social Welfare Department besides our teachers, students and their parents have all combined to achieve this feat,” says Hermaba Kumar Das, a teacher with the BDS School. “We had to record their lectures, and send them in sign language while their notes were sent to them on WhatsApp.” He says that with the number of students enrolling in their school going up, the school will need infrastructure support to continue doing better.
Dipesh Chandra Roy, another student of this school established in 1949, secured letter marks in two subjects, and passed with Star Marks. He has been a boarder in the school hostel since his pre-primary days. His mother Anita was all praises for his teachers and the Government. “If the Government continues to support these students, I am sure many more like Dipesh will emerge across all disciplines,”she says.
Dipesh’s result is nearly matched by Salma, his classmate. She scored letter mark in one subject and passed in First Division. Hailing from Kolgachia of Barpeta district, Salma is a good artist as well. Her father is a driver, while mother Sajeda Khatun is a homemaker. She attributed her daughter’s achievement to the dedication of her teachers.
Afrin Ahmed, his classmate, has scored the highest mark in the State in Weaving and Textile Design paper.
Guwahati Blind High School Principal Nirupama Bhattacharya, while analysing her school results, reflected on the challenges faced during Covid. “Since they depend on Braille for their education, we had to record their lessons, and disseminate them in their WhatsApp group in the form of audio recordings. It would not have been possible but for the relentless dedication of my colleagues, and the support of the guardians,” she says. “The results of our previous batches, too, acted as an inspiration for these students.”
Laxman Kumar Mishra has done the school proud with letter marks in four subjects besides scoring 80% overall. He will pursue Science in his higher secondary. “I know the challenges that a visually impaired like me will face while pursuing Science. But if institutional support and assistance from people around keep forthcoming, I can,” he tells Asom Barta, with confidence writ large in his voice.
Jonmoni Duarah is an outlier, though. She had no one to give her company in her class. She was the only student to appear in her matriculation from the Jorhat Blind School. Yet, that did not impact her performance. She scored letter marks in two subjects and passed with Star Mark to cap off a very impressive result for these special students in the State for whom grit and determination always find a new meaning.
Schools with 100% Results
Bhanwari Devi Saraogi Government Higher Secondary School for Hearing Impaired
Srimanta Sankar Mission Blind School, Nagaon
Guwahati Blind High School
Jorhat Blind Institute School
Jana Mangal Adarsha Blind School, Moran
Assam Blind Child School, Bihpuria
Schools Under SEBA: 7016
Special School: 6 (4 Government;
2 Private)
574 Divyangs appeared in HSLC Examinations
447 divyangs passed HSLC
