If you have the will, there is a way. The adage was proven beyond doubt by four mentally challenged boys. These boys, aged between 15 and 17 years, have proved to the world that they can succeed in academics, quite contrary to popular belief that their IQ level does not permit them to do so.
R L Pradeepkumar, Rajkumar, Nethaji and Naveenkumar suffer from 65 per cent mental disability coupled with cerebral palsy. They are inmates of the Bethel Institute of Basic Education (BIBE) for the Mentally Challenged, a daycare school in Katpadi. The boys appeared for the tenth standard CBSE examination conducted by the National Open School recently and passed with approximately 60 per cent marks. They are the first batch of mentally challenged students with top qualification among the 4,000-plus students in the district.
A jubilant Rajkumar said he wanted to become an Engineer. All the four are getting ready to write the Plus Two exams soon. Director of BIBE, Immanuel, said it took two years of coaching, which comprised sessions of teaching and recreation followed by practice everyday(the students had the help of scribes). “Their parents as well as all of us are very happy about their performance,” Immanuel said.
District Differently-abled Welfare Officer, Charles Prabhakaran said a function was held on Monday and Collector Ajay Yadav handed over the certificates to the boys. “They have proved that they can also join the social mainstream without much difficulty, much against the stigma attached to them,” he said.
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