Goodbye to centre shocks

For the first time in the history of Gujarat University, students will write final examinations in their respective colleges


By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, January 13, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2010011320100113023601388d055b976)

Almost 3 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate students of Gujarat University will now be able to take the varsity examinations in their own colleges. For the first time since its inception, Gujarat University will do away with the system of holding the final examinations at different centres, university authorities said.

Henceforth, students won’t have to run from one place to another to appear in examinations at various centres depending on their subjects. Colleges will be entrusted with the responsibility of invigilation and providing space to its students. The university will, however, oversee it, besides providing the question papers and examiners, the authorities said.

Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi said, “We are working out the modalities on holding the examinations. The one area we are looking at is if a particular college runs arts, commerce, BBA and BCA courses, how will we hold the examinations at the same time at the same place.”

A university observer will be present in every college. He will personally deliver the papers, oversee the examination process and once it is over, collect the answersheets, the V-C said.
“Since the task is huge, we will implement it in select courses from this year, and from next year, all university examinations will be held likewise,” Trivedi said.

A principal of a college, who did not wish to be named, said, “This will bring relief to the students, but private colleges, which don’t even complete their courses, will push their students to cheat.”

Dhiren Senger, a second year commerce student of City Arts & Commerce College, said, “Most of our time is spent in hunting for centres and commuting during exams. Lakhs of students will heave a sigh of relief if the university goes ahead with the decision.”
Another student, Vikas of H K Arts & Commerce College, said, “Besides reducing time, it will reduce the exam pressure on students.”

The positives

With this decision, the loss-making university will save lakhs of rupees on manpower and logistics, the authorities point out.
Students have often complained about their examination centres being at far-off places. University authorities say it is not possible to accommodate everyone at a place near their college. All these problems will be dealt with now. College-goers can no more complain that they did not find the centre or reached late for the examination.
Some colleges, which till now did not support the university in conducting the exams in terms of staff and space, will now fall in line, since they will have to take care of their students.

Moreover, answering the exam in his/her own college will psychologically ease the pressure on a student.

Complaints of bias by certain teachers against students of other colleges during examinations will also be dealt with, the authorities said.
Arts and commerce students, with various subject combinations, have to run from one centre to another to appear for the different papers. Moreover, if there are just a few students appearing for a particular subject, the university has to specially arrange for a centre and invigilator for them.
The university will not have to spend extra money on teachers to invigilate during exams. When exams are held in respective colleges, it becomes part of that college lecturers’ duties.

The other side
One disadvantage that critics point out is that cheating cases will increase since there is a possibility of teachers going easy on their students during exams.