Nagpur: The goof-up in Bachelor of Education (BEd) fourth semester question paper has thrown up a tricky situation before the Nagpur University (NU) exam section which may not be able to easily find a fair solution to the problem, feel experts.
On May 25, the BEd students had got question paper with wrong marks and timing. Though the 2-hour exam for ‘Gender, School and Society’ was for 50 marks, students were given question paper for 100 marks and 3 hours duration.
Director, Board of Examination and Evaluation, Neeraj Khaty agreed that evaluation of such answerbooks would be a challenge for the valuers.
Former Pro-VC Gaurishanker Parasher, who was thrice dean of education faculty, said this is a very serious issue. “First, facts must be verified to ascertain the fault. Second, you can’t have two exam duration for same set of students. The BoE must discuss this issue,” he said.
Former dean of education faculty Keshav Bhandarkar suggested that the marks should be awarded on proportionate basis. “Valuers must be instructed to assess the answerbooks as if they were dealing with a 100 marks paper and then the same percentage of marks must be awarded as per the syllabus,” he said.
However, a BEd teacher said it was not as easy. “What about students who were either told or they themselves stuck to the rule and sat for only 2 hours?” he said.
He added that in case the NU decides to award maximum marks, it will be still unfair to an unknown number of students.
In such a scenario, re-exam only looks to be the best possible way out but the students are opposed to the idea making it a Catch-22 situation for NU.
Meanwhile, NU officials disclosed that the moderation committee, which is directly responsible for the mess, is trying to blame the printer for publishing wrong timing and marks.
Experts said the NU has been neglecting seniority and experience in appointment of paper setters and moderators because of which such issues are repeatedly surfacing.
On May 24, TOI had reported how NU is falling back on old panels for exam work. The functioning of special task committees has come under scanner for picking favoured members for crucial exam works in the past.
Bhandarkar, who has been involved in exam work for over 15 years, said nobody else other than the moderation committee can be responsible for the mistake. “Such mistakes can be avoided if experienced members are appointed on the panel for selecting paper setters and moderators,” he said.
The exam officials would start the inquiry on Monday and come to conclusion in a week or so.
EXPERT OPINION
First, facts must be verified to ascertain the fault
BoE must discuss the issue
Valuers must assess answerbooks as if they were dealing with a 100 marks paper
Then the same percentage of marks must be awarded as per the syllabus
In case the NU decides to award maximum marks, it will be still unfair to an unknown number of students
Moderation committee solely responsible for the mistake