Publication: Mid Day
Date: November 27, 2007
Section & Page: News, Pg. 6

 

Parents want dyslexic kids!

Number of students seeking learning disability certificates has doubled in past three years

JAVED Shaikh, a student of a South Mumbai convent school, was weak in Hindi and Mathematics. His parents sought a certificate from the Sion Hospital that declared him dyslexic (children with a learning disability) and shifted him to an international school last year. He scored 70 per cent marks (IGSCE) in Std X. He had scored only 35 per cent in Std VIII (lCSE) in his previous school.

"More than a thousand students approach us every year seeking dyslexia certificates. In just three years, the numbers have doubled. We find that most students find languages more difficult," said Dr Madhuri Kulkarni, dean of Sion Hospital. The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination board approves only the government-run Sion Hospital's certificate for awarding concessions to LD children. She admitted that over 20 to 25 per cent of the students are not LD, yet parents seek certificates for them.

Some parents submit certificates from private counsellors, too. But school principals feel that some parents misuse the system. "A parent from my school got the certificate from a leading private counsellor. This year I asked him to get the certificate from Sion Hospital, and he was unable to do so," said Priyanka Rajani, principal of Vidyanidhi High School. Divya Balgi, administrator of Maharashtra Dyslexia Association (MDA), said, "We get 30–40 enquiries a month, of which we assess 20–25 children for IQ and educational assessment.”

“More than a thousand students approach us every year seeking dyslexia certificates. In just three years, the numbers have doubled”
- Dr Madhuri Kulkarni, Dean of Sion Hospital


'Nothing wrong'

Sheela Tiwari, Deputy Director of School Education depart­ment, doesn't find anything wrong with more parents seeking LD concessions. "Awareness about LD students has increased among parents and we are looking for even more progress. However, I have not come across any complaint of exploitation of the concession," she said.

"I think it's unfair on us when a child having an LD is given a concession. Despite putting in the hard work, we fail to get admissions," rues Yaashna Rajani, Std X student, Jamnabai Narsee Monjee School, Juhu.

 

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