Sunday, 26 October 2008
Chennai: From April 2009, answer papers will be evaluated by the instructor taking the class, said Dr S Ramachandran, vice-chancellor, University of Madras, on Saturday. Speaking after a senate meeting, the VC said, “The strength of the choice-based credit system is the wide choice of subjects that it offers. But, we cannot afford so many examiners to evaluate the answer sheets.” This decision is subject to the approval of the senate, he added. The system would first be introduced on a trial basis for core subjects from April 2009. Based on public reception of the idea, the system would be scaled to include allied subjects too, three years from now. The question paper would also be set by the instructor handling that subject.

Queries were raised about whether this would result in teachers taking advantage of the situation and awarding more or less marks to students based on their rapport with them, and whether institutions would award students of their institutions more marks to boost the college results. Ramachandran replied, “Teachers must be above all considerations of caste or creed. While autonomous colleges are following the system it’s time that the university too caught up and made the best of the CBC system. But, we will set up a system through which a student with such complaints can appeal and get redressal.”


Till then, the answer sheets would have to be evaluated at various colleges. Admitting that the affiliated colleges were reluctant to provide space in their colleges and send their teachers for paper evaluation, he said that talks were on to convince the heads of various colleges to comply on these issues. “We can tell them that affiliation would be delayed if they do not comply with these conditions,” said Ramachandran.

Other resolutions passed by the members during the senate meeting included getting photocopies of the answer scripts and their revaluation done at the same time to allow the student to not waste a session in applying for the exam if he has failed it. The members also asked that paper evaluation be arranged at centres that were accessible and had good infrastructure because otherwise teachers, especially women, found it difficult to reach the place. The VC said that the resolution asking for the revaluation fee be returned to those who passed or got 20 marks more than the first evaluation was still under consideration.