China Braille Exams: Blind Students Can Now Access Higher Education
International Business Times UK
22nd April 2014
China Braille Exams: Blind Students Can Now Access Higher Education
The Chinese Education Ministry has decided to introduce Braille or electronic exams for national university entrance to help candidates who are blind or have visual impairments.
Until now, students with visual problems have been barred from mainstream higher education because no provision was made to accommodate their disability.
"Making exams accessible to the blind would help to minimise discrimination against and maximise respect for people with disabilities in China," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "This is an important breakthrough after years of advocacy by disability rights advocates in China."
China's Education Law, which has been implemented since 1995, stipulates that disabled persons have an equal right to receive education.
“This is an important breakthrough after years of advocacy by disability rights advocates in China.”
Article 54 of China's Law on the Protection of the Disabled Persons, amended in 2008, stipulates that if visually impaired people are to sit government-organised school admission or professional qualification exams, they should either be provided with test papers in Braille, electronic test papers, or assistance from designated staff.
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