Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Apr 30: At least five specially-abled students from Abhinandan Home Rambagh, Srinagar, have achieved extraordinary success in their 12th class examinations, all securing distinctions.
Mudasir Ahmad, Principal of Abhinandan Home Rambagh, said these five students, all deaf and mute, appeared for the 12th-grade exams this year and passed with flying colours. This marks the first time in the 83-year history of the institution that students have achieved such remarkable results.
The principal said that for these students, Abhinandan Home was their only hope. So far, hundreds of specially-abled students from the school have successfully crossed the 12th-grade milestone.
The students—Mehran Syed, Shahid Shafi, Sadiq Sarwar, Yawar Manzoor and Tasif Ahmad Sheikh—scored 459, 442, 436, 435 and 392 marks respectively.
Sharing their experiences, the students said they initially studied in regular schools but faced numerous challenges. Later, they joined Abhinandan Home, where facilities such as Braille books, large-print materials, and specialised teaching methods helped them excel.
They stressed that specially-abled students often have to work twice as hard as their peers and credited their success to supportive parents, teachers, and staff at the school.
Family members of Mehran Syed, who is deaf and mute, said he first attended Zaiba Apa School in Bijbehara before joining Abhinandan Home. They expressed gratitude that such a school was available locally, which enabled their son to pursue his education.
Shahid Shafi, who is visually impaired, dedicated his success to the efforts of teachers and the unwavering support of his parents.
The students conveyed an important message: that specially-abled individuals should recognise their potential to compete with others and turn their disabilities into strengths. They urged those who have stopped studying due to disabilities to join special schools like Abhinandan Home so they can become independent and self-reliant.
However, the students expressed concern about future challenges. Currently, there is no dedicated college or inclusive higher education facility for physically handicapped students in the region. They fear their educational journey may face obstacles at the college level due to infrastructural gaps.
One student said, “We fear that our higher education may be hindered because there are no proper facilities for us. We request the government and authorities to establish separate colleges or inclusive sections in existing institutions so that students like us can pursue higher studies without difficulties.”
They appealed to the government to address this issue urgently, saying immediate arrangements must be made to ensure that specially-abled students do not face further hurdles in their educational pursuits.
