Friday, November 25, 2016

Univ for disabled to get Central tag

Enthusiastic teachers, innovative teaching methods and keen students at JRHU offer life lessons for the more privileged

Chitrakoot, UP: There is nothing unusual about a teacher standing in front of a classroom delivering a lecture to eager students. But Manish Kumar's classroom is slightly different. This visually impaired teacher stands with great pride, in his class of students, who are visually and physically challenged Located in Chitrakoot, the Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University, (JRHU), is a university specifically for the differently abled. It is a living embodiment of just what the less-abled can do if given a chance. In fact, the ‘can do' attitude of the staff here has impressed the government, and the HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar is considering granting it the tag of Central University soon. Kumar is a good example of this ‘can do' attitude. He is just 28, but his work gives hope to his students that they too can become a ‘somebody', someday. His unique teaching method is something that the sighted or ‘normal' teachers could possibly learn from.
“I use various teaching methods. I am a visually disabled person, I cannot write on the blackboard. So, I make use of the projector to teach a particular concept that needs detailing. I also use audio mediums to connect with the visually disabled,” he says.

Kumar is not alone. Many other teachers (some of whom are challenged) come to work daily. Students here are just as keen, some come from far-flung villages in UP, and even neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, to learn. According to the school staff, currently there are 1,500 students learning from a choice of 15 courses offered at the university. Apart from the regular B.Ed, some of the courses include a degree in Social Work, Music, Fine Arts, and other special training courses. Teachers say that those who have hearing disabilities opt for courses in Fine Arts and Computers, while the visually disabled choose courses like Music. The B.Ed is, of course, common to all students.

How different is it to teach the physically challenged as compared to ‘normal' students? Gopal 
Mishra, a professor who teaches Music at the university says, “When you teach students with a 
disability you have to be extra-sensitive to understand their feelings. You need to be completely 
involved with them. In my case, when I teach visually disabled students, they can only hear me, so if 
my tone changes, they assume I am getting angry with them.” Most of the students live on-campus. There are two hostels - one for boys and one for girls. Despite their individual challenges,
 thestudents find solace in helping each other. Botla Yadav, a 19-year-old physically challenged 
student shares, “I am from Badhoni village in UP, and I am pursuing my BA here. I have made good 
friends in the hostel and they help me in moving around the campus”.

Basic facilities like tri-cycles, hearing aids, and other amenities are provided to the students free of 
cost. “We can expect better things if the university gets Central University status,” says Mishra.
And Mishra's wish just might be coming true soon. A team of University Grants Commission (UGC) 
officials visited the university early in November to review the facilities for granting Central 
University status to the institution. Commenting on the visit, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said, 
“A team of UGC officials visited the campus and have given me a positive feedback on the 
university. I am also positive that we can grant it the status of Central University soon.”

Source: DNA- 22nd November,2016

http://epaper2.dnaindia.com/index.php?pagedate=2016-11-22&edcode=820009&subcode=820009&mod=1&pgnum=2