Visually impaired students want ban on teachers recruitments lifted
Blind Peoples Association (BPA) will see a unique celebration
of Teachers Day on Monday.
At the BPAs Vastrapur campus, hundreds of visually challenged people who were denied
teachers job despite sound academic qualification will stage a protest.
The visually impaired are protesting over Gujarat government not recruiting them
as teachers. The state government had in a circular last year barred totally blind
and deaf persons from applying to the post of vidhyasahak. The move came when thousands
of visually challenged students were being enrolled in BEd colleges across the state
every year. Also, the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), which is a must for getting
a teachers job, is conducted for blind candidates, said Bhushan Purani of BPA, adding
that many visually challenged students cleared TET with flying colors, but couldn't
apply for the job due to the governments blanket ban.
Let them apply and take a decision on hiring them during the interview, considering
the candidates potential. The Gujarat governments move is unconstitutional and against
the spirit of equality, said Purani.
The gathering at BPA will have several academicians who not only overcame their
disability, but also won many awards for best teacher leaving behind others.
BPAs founder member Dr Jagdish K Patels birthday coincides with that of Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan. On the day, the visually challenged people will also showcase their
teaching skills to the visitors at BPA. Also present will be aspirants who have
been denied job despite having all the potential, said a BPA official.
Among the many successful visually challenged to display their teaching
skills will be professor Bhaskar Mehta, former disability commissioner, Vishlesha
Jani, who has won several awards, and Ranchod Soni, in-charge of BPAs technology
lab.
Courtesy: Times of India
