In a school in Pokhara, 30 visually impaired students are learning how to use computers, this has not only given them the knowledge of technology, it has also opened the door to earn a living in the future.
What you should know
Prateik Pokhrel of Tanahun used to read and write with the help of braille till a year ago. A year on, he uses Braille very little. Nowadays, he reads and writes on his laptop. They do their homework on the laptop, print it and submit it to the teacher.
"When writing in Braille, the paper would be lost, erased, and would not be found when searching". I couldn't submit my homework on time,' he said.
He is studying in Class 9 of Amarsingh Model Secondary School in Pokhara-12 Ramghat. Along with him, 65 blind students study in this school. 47 of them live in the blind dormitory of the school. 30 students from the dormitory study computer in the morning and evening. Students who are newly enrolled in class 11 and studying below class 4 do not learn how to use computers now .
Pokhrel has the experience of saving a lot of time in teaching and knowledge of assistive technology after learning computer. It takes 7-8 minutes to write a page in Braille if you have a topic. Typing the same thing on a computer takes 3 minutes," he added, "writing in Braille takes time. Knows where the letter is on the keyboard . I type easily.' He said that he uses a laptop to study all other subjects except mathematics because it is uncomfortable to calculate using the numbers, letters and symbols of the keyboard. He uses braille in math studies.
Supreem Poudel of Syangja, who is studying in class 4, is also learning English and Nepali typing on the computer. He uses Braille script for writing. After reaching the upper class, he is also trying to get used to the computer for the purpose of using technology in teaching. When you type, it says the same thing on the speaker . I am enjoying it,' he said.
Students are divided into 4 groups according to class and ability and are given knowledge about computers. English and Nepali typing, Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Email, as well as students up to class 6 are taught to read and write in Braille. From class 7, students are emphasized on the use of computers and laptops, which does not make the use of Braille mandatory for reading and writing. He said that in order to familiarize the students of the lower classes, they will also be taught the use of computers and various software. It is mandatory to use Braille. "I had to use Braille to make letters better," said the teacher. Some of my brothers who I teach have now made good use of computers.'
Ale says that if you get used to computers from childhood and have basic knowledge, it will be easy to make a source of income in the future. Even if a student becomes a government employee tomorrow, he needs a lot of work that he has learned now. No, even if he says that I will write an article, even if he says that he will learn programming, he can do it from the computer in the future," he said. In terms of money and time, Braille is expensive and inconvenient to use.
How many students do not have access to computers, laptops except during the time of reading in the hostel lab . The teacher said that it is not easy to connect all students with technology as parents of many students do not have the financial condition to buy a laptop. He believes that if the local government represented by the concerned students can support it, it will be very fruitful. "How many students don't tell our fathers and mothers?" Not everyone can afford to buy a laptop," he added, "There are 1-2 blind students in a ward. If the government spends 200,000,000 and provides them with assistive technology, it would be good.' With the help of such software, the letters, numbers, and symbols on the computer screen are read aloud. Students know what they are writing or what they see on the screen when they hear it on the speaker. That is why the student learning computer is taught to use the keyboard in the beginning . A blind person does not use a mouse when using a computer . They are trained to use the computer through shortcut keys.
Amarsingh has been teaching for blind students since 2038. The school has been teaching computers to visually impaired students for the last 6 years. Naresh Nepal, head of the visually impaired department, said that the results of the efforts made to connect with technology are positive. He said that even though it is easy to connect with technology, blind students are somewhat uncomfortable because of the language. "How many students come in Nepali medium up to 8 having read all the subjects . It seems to be a bit difficult to read in English when you come here . If you have to search for something on mobile, computer, it is far away, he said.
2 thousand 700 students study in Amarsingh Mavi up to class 12. The school runs an 'Inclusion Class', where visually impaired and other students study in the same room . Out of 65 blind students, 41 use slate and stylus to read and write. The remaining 23 people said that teachers who use printed letters with a pen have come. He told that these students do not use Braille because they can understand letters even though they have low vision. One student uses both Braille and print.
It is uncomfortable to write apart from listening to the blind students teaching in the 'inclusive class'. Because the teacher does not understand the letters written in Braille. It should be transcribed . The school has hired two staff members to transcribe letters written in Braille by blind students. A blind student can submit homework to the teacher only after the staff transcribes it. Teacher Ale says that since it takes time for the students to write and transcribe the
, it would be more effective to make the use of technology mandatory after they reach the upper grades. It is difficult for blind students who are reading and writing in Braille to get real time feedback. So, at least if they are taught to write on a computer, they can print it and explain it," he said, "It's just that it's slow and fast. In the future, in the case of visually impaired students, technology will also be given priority in studies and exams.'
