Semester riddle
Meant to improve academics, the semester system has eaten into classroom instruction time; it has also made education exam-oriented and more expensive
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, March 12, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013031220130312013545656f30b8288/Semester-riddle.html)
The semester system that was introduced by Gujarat University about two years ago to make life easier for students does not seem to be serving the purpose. Students are caught in a web of examinations which run round the year, cutting down on classroom teaching time and reducing colleges to being “examination departments”. Education system is tottering on the brink and its credibility will soon come to be questioned if things are not sorted out soon, teachers feel. Says Prof Bhalchandra Joshi, registrar of GLS group of colleges, “According to the feedback from the teachers and students, classroom teaching hours have been compromised.
Exams are round the corner for the second and fourth semester students though they are yet to get results of the previous tests
Besides, internal exams, assessment and preparation of result take time. The process is repeated for the end-semester university papers. Colleges have become examination departments. Teaching is suffering as all focus has shifted to exams.” HK College of Arts Principal Subhash Brahmbhatt pointed out that students did not get time to learn the basics. The semester began on June 15, while entire June, July and August were almost lost to admission process. Come September and the students have to face exams, he pointed out. Semester system is good for institutes where there are fewer students, but the system does not seem to be working as colleges have to deal with huge numbers.
“After spending 40 years on campus, I am witnessing a drastic fall in the attendance of students. They seem to be headed for tuition classes as all are worried about papers all the time,” Prof Joshi added. The system was supposed to distribute the teaching burden into two parts. However, effectively it has only doubled exams worries and books expenses for students, while eating into their learning time, feel observers. Also, syllabi were not really upgraded, just divided into two parts, they point out.
RESULTS PLEASE
The first and the third semester students, both UG and PG, who wrote exams in December last year are yet to get their results. Next semester exams are round the corner and students are preparing for them while living with the anxiety of the result of the semester gone by. The first semester BA, BCom and BSc exams were held on December 24, and the third semester exams were held on December 3. However the students are yet to get results. Similarly, MA and MSc exams were held in December. These students too are yet to get their results.
This is just part of the problem. Said Prof Brahmbhatt said, “By itself, the semester system is good. However, it has been very poorly implemented. A massive change like this should have been preceded by a pilot project. It should have been adopted in a smooth, effective manner, keeping in mind ground realities and by making it meet local needs. However, the form in which it is here, has made exams the central and the sole factor, which is unfortunate.” There are other drawbacks, too, in this system. Prof Brahmbhatt added, “There are problems with the syllabus and the pattern of question papers.
There is no focus on extra-curricular or even co-curricular aspects. They have deleted questions for 20 marks from several subjects and replaced them with questions for seven marks. This deters students and teachers from paying adequate attention to important topics which were hitherto covered.”
‘EXAMS, EXAMS, EXAMS’
Students seem equally agitated about the issue. Vidya Rathod, a BA second semester student said, “There were hardly any lectures in this semester. First there were internal exams and then university exams. There was hardly any time for studies. Besides, assignments and projects are an eyewash. They don’t serve any purpose. This system ensures only three things – exams, exams and exams.” Dipak Kanoja also a BA second semester student said, “We get only two months to study. Before we can adjust ourselves we are bombarded with exams. It’s a terrible experience.”
Students also have to buy books twice every year which is a constraint for many, he said. CU Shah Science college Principal Anita Gharekhan said, “Semester is meant just to conduct exams, it so appears. Whosoever has implemented it, has done so without thinking. Quality of education has been completely compromised, they do not get even 90 days for studies. Students are bombarded with exams one after the other.” Stating the problems of science colleges in particular, Prof Gharekhan added, “We first have internal exams, then internal theory exams. These are followed by practical exams, etc. The university has just provided money, while the entire tension of conducting these exams has been handed over to the colleges. Little wonder, most students and teachers feel like revolting against this.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, March 12, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013031220130312013545656f30b8288/Semester-riddle.html)
The semester system that was introduced by Gujarat University about two years ago to make life easier for students does not seem to be serving the purpose. Students are caught in a web of examinations which run round the year, cutting down on classroom teaching time and reducing colleges to being “examination departments”. Education system is tottering on the brink and its credibility will soon come to be questioned if things are not sorted out soon, teachers feel. Says Prof Bhalchandra Joshi, registrar of GLS group of colleges, “According to the feedback from the teachers and students, classroom teaching hours have been compromised.
Exams are round the corner for the second and fourth semester students though they are yet to get results of the previous tests
Besides, internal exams, assessment and preparation of result take time. The process is repeated for the end-semester university papers. Colleges have become examination departments. Teaching is suffering as all focus has shifted to exams.” HK College of Arts Principal Subhash Brahmbhatt pointed out that students did not get time to learn the basics. The semester began on June 15, while entire June, July and August were almost lost to admission process. Come September and the students have to face exams, he pointed out. Semester system is good for institutes where there are fewer students, but the system does not seem to be working as colleges have to deal with huge numbers.
“After spending 40 years on campus, I am witnessing a drastic fall in the attendance of students. They seem to be headed for tuition classes as all are worried about papers all the time,” Prof Joshi added. The system was supposed to distribute the teaching burden into two parts. However, effectively it has only doubled exams worries and books expenses for students, while eating into their learning time, feel observers. Also, syllabi were not really upgraded, just divided into two parts, they point out.
RESULTS PLEASE
The first and the third semester students, both UG and PG, who wrote exams in December last year are yet to get their results. Next semester exams are round the corner and students are preparing for them while living with the anxiety of the result of the semester gone by. The first semester BA, BCom and BSc exams were held on December 24, and the third semester exams were held on December 3. However the students are yet to get results. Similarly, MA and MSc exams were held in December. These students too are yet to get their results.
This is just part of the problem. Said Prof Brahmbhatt said, “By itself, the semester system is good. However, it has been very poorly implemented. A massive change like this should have been preceded by a pilot project. It should have been adopted in a smooth, effective manner, keeping in mind ground realities and by making it meet local needs. However, the form in which it is here, has made exams the central and the sole factor, which is unfortunate.” There are other drawbacks, too, in this system. Prof Brahmbhatt added, “There are problems with the syllabus and the pattern of question papers.
There is no focus on extra-curricular or even co-curricular aspects. They have deleted questions for 20 marks from several subjects and replaced them with questions for seven marks. This deters students and teachers from paying adequate attention to important topics which were hitherto covered.”
‘EXAMS, EXAMS, EXAMS’
Students seem equally agitated about the issue. Vidya Rathod, a BA second semester student said, “There were hardly any lectures in this semester. First there were internal exams and then university exams. There was hardly any time for studies. Besides, assignments and projects are an eyewash. They don’t serve any purpose. This system ensures only three things – exams, exams and exams.” Dipak Kanoja also a BA second semester student said, “We get only two months to study. Before we can adjust ourselves we are bombarded with exams. It’s a terrible experience.”
Students also have to buy books twice every year which is a constraint for many, he said. CU Shah Science college Principal Anita Gharekhan said, “Semester is meant just to conduct exams, it so appears. Whosoever has implemented it, has done so without thinking. Quality of education has been completely compromised, they do not get even 90 days for studies. Students are bombarded with exams one after the other.” Stating the problems of science colleges in particular, Prof Gharekhan added, “We first have internal exams, then internal theory exams. These are followed by practical exams, etc. The university has just provided money, while the entire tension of conducting these exams has been handed over to the colleges. Little wonder, most students and teachers feel like revolting against this.”
