1 year ago
Punjabi University Disability Center Faces Resource Challenges
Punjabi University in India started a special program to help students with hearing impairments.
However, the program is struggling because it doesn't have enough classrooms or teachers.
A professor who is blind is working hard to make sure the university provides what's needed.
The program needs to meet certain requirements set by a government organization to continue.
Students are unhappy because they don't have the resources they expected when they enrolled.
Punjabi University's Centre for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities lacks proper classrooms and faculty.
A new BA-BEd course for students with hearing impairments has started without adequate resources.
Kiran Sharma, a visually impaired professor, is advocating for the center's needs.
The Rehabilitation Council of India granted conditional approval, potentially revoking it if conditions aren't met.
Students express disappointment over the lack of facilities, despite the university's promises.
- Who
- Kiran Sharma, a visually impaired assistant professor and coordinator of the center, and the 20 students enrolled in the BA-BEd course.
- What
- Punjabi University's Center for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities lacks classrooms and faculty for its newly launched course for students with hearing impairments.
- Where
- Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
- When
- The BA-BEd course started recently.
- Why
- The university has not fulfilled its promises to provide the necessary infrastructure and faculty for the program, despite approval from the Rehabilitation Council of India.
Student Perspective
University Perspective
Expectations vs. Reality
Student Perspective
Students and their parents hoped for better prospects.
University Perspective
Students face a complete disappointment because there are no classrooms or faculty.
Key facts
- Course Name
- BA-BEd HIFS (Bachelors of Arts and Education in Hearing Impairment Foundation Stage)
- University
- Punjabi University, Patiala
- Professor
- Kiran Sharma
- Approval Granted By
- Rehabilitation Council of India
- Grant Amount
- Rs 55.60 lakh (2021)
- Current Students in Course
- 20
Quotes
Kiran Sharma
Visually impaired assistant professor and coordinator of the Centre for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
“We had started the course only after I was promised that special faculty will be hired and classrooms will be allotted. I know it is disheartening for students too as they took admission in the new course with high hopes. The university has promised us that we will get classrooms soon and faculty will also be made available to teach course subjects. Till then, I am trying to teach the students about disabilities to the best of my own knowledge.”
indianexpress.com
“Along with the faculty to teach basic arts subjects such as economics, languages etc, we also need two assistant professors specialised in hearing impairment (to teach sign language) and who should have postgraduate degree in special education. We might engage guest faculty if regular ones are not hired.”
indianexpress.com
a student
A student of the new course
“But till now, it has been a complete disappointment. There are no classrooms, no faculty. If they had no arrangements, why was the course started”
indianexpress.com
Jaswinder Singh Brar
Dean of Academic Affairs, Panjabi University, Patiala
“We are committed to providing all basic facilities to all our students. This centre is our special project. They will get classrooms and teachers soon. We will engage guest faculty having required qualification.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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