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
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