Mumbai, March 11 – A group of parents representing students with disabilities has appealed to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) to implement key policy reforms to make the education system more inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities.
The practical exams for secondary and senior secondary students are scheduled to begin on March 17.
Parents of students with disabilities have raised several concerns related to subject combinations, examination patterns, evaluation methods, and practical guidelines at the secondary and senior secondary levels in a detailed letter addressed to the Chairperson of NIOS.
The letter, dated March 6, was sent via email and also tweeted by the parents.
The letter states that despite earlier communication in November and December 2025, these issues remain unresolved. Parents argue that the lack of a response has compelled them to once again request authorities to examine the matter in the interest of students with disabilities.
They have highlighted the following issues:
* Demand for flexible subject choices
* Allowing students with disabilities to opt for Data Entry Operations (DEO) along with an additional vocational subject at the secondary level.
* Stress on practical exams and assessments: While secondary level learners are required to complete only four practical exams, senior secondary learners must complete as many as twenty, which parents say creates undue pressure on students with special needs.
* Concerns over examination patterns: The letter also flags irregularities in the examination pattern of Business Studies papers in recent sessions. According to parents, some question papers included questions beyond the prescribed syllabus and lacked internal choices across sections, causing confusion and anxiety among students with disabilities.
* Demand for inclusive examination infrastructure: The letter further highlights the lack of specialised examination centres in Mumbai. Currently, the city has only one Special Accredited Institution for Education of the Disabled (SAIED), which caters only to secondary-level exams.
* Call for fair evaluation and simplified papers: Parents have also called for fair and sensitive evaluation methods for students with disabilities.