OFF THE MARK
Tension brews on GU campus as bright MA students fail semester-1 exam, blame faulty assessment; acknowledging discrepancy, VC promises to set up probe into the matterYogesh Avasthi
Posted On Tuesday, April 08, 2014 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/201404082014040802495431260b230c/OFF-THE-MARK.html
Students are usually worried before exam, and relieved once they get the results in hand. For first year MA students, this is not the case. Several students in semester-1 were stupefied on seeing their results which were declared 10 days ago. Having scored excellent marks throughout their academic life, they were stunned to see low scores that can mar their career prospects. Claiming that most of them have scored badly in certain subjects due to faulty evaluation, students stormed the pro vice-chancellor and vice-chancellor’s offices on Tuesday seeking re-evaluation.
Many even threatened to file RTI applications to see the evaluated answersheets. More than 250 students lodged formal complaints with Gujarat University. Realising the gravity of the situation, university authority has decided to initiate an inquiry into the matter. On Tuesday, more than 100 students of Economics submitted written complaints to Pro- VC Mukul Shah. Astudent of H K Arts college, seeking anonymity, said, “When we initially saw our result online, we thought there must have been some technical error. When we got the marksheet, we were shocked. I scored 75 per cent in BA, and 80 per cent in BEd.
Yet, I failed three subjects in MA (sem-1) even though I know that I performed well. In one of the subjects, I have got just 13 marks (out of 100) even though I have answered multiple-choice questions and theory questions well. Something is definitely amiss.” Another student, also from HK Arts college, said, “When we go for a job interview, they consider marks of all four semesters. If we do not score 55 per cent in MA, we won’t be eligible to appear for several entrance tests including State Eligibility Test for Lectureship. We have worked hard for so many years to maintain a perfect academic record.
This result will ruin our hard work. GU must investigate this matter and get to the bottom of it.” A reliable source in the university said, “Around 4,000 students appeared for MA (sem-1) exams, of which around 1,900 students have passed. Several students have scored less in Micro Economics, Environmental Economics, History and other subjects. Compared to last year, the result is poor this time. “Students from H K Arts College on Ashram Road and A P Patel Arts College in Naroda have been badly affected. Even students from Dahod and other university-affiliated centres are facing this problem. Students have threatened to file applications under the Right to Information to check the evaluated answersheets for themselves.”
Senate member (PG Arts) Divyaraj Gadhvi, who had accompanied the students to meet the pro-VC, said, “If you analyse the results subjectwise, you will realize that students have got dismal scores in certain subjects. This is due to faulty evaluation. Such a grave mistake will harm the future of these students. The varsity should set aprobe into the matter.” Meanwhile, GU has gone into damage control mode. VC M N Patel and the pro-VC both have assured students that the matter will be redressed at the earliest. Vice Chancellor M N Patel said, “A sizeable number of students have failed.
There seems to be some problem in examining or assessing papers of certain subjects, we have given the responsibility of investigating the issue to the Arts faculty dean. We will also get a retired teacher from our university to randomly check answer books. Or even call someone, who is not affiliated to the university, to check for discrepancies in the answersheets. We will know the truth once the dean submits the report. Meanwhile, we assure students that no wrong will be done to them. If a teacher is found to have wrongly assessed a paper, we will take action against him/her.”
