BENGALURU: Not more than a handful of post-graduate students fail in exams in Karnataka’s state universities. For instance, in Bangalore University, the pass percentage of MA students in June 2018 was a whopping 98. In MCom, it’s 96, MBA and MEd 97, MCA is 97, Master of Social Work 99 and Master of Engineering with 299 students, it’s 100% passes.
Of the various post-graduate programmes, MSc has relatively low pass percentage at 85%, but up 7% from June 2017.
The story repeats in the rest of the state. In Kuvempu University, MA pass percentage is at 98, MCom 95 and MSc 94 in the second-semester results announced in July 2019. In Mangalore University, the overall pass percentage in post-graduate programmes is 94. In its autonomous colleges, the results are higher — 96.06%. In Mysore University, MCom passes stood at 92% during 2018-19.
Admitting they are “extremely liberal in valuation”, a BU English professor said: “It’s unfair to compare most of our students — primarily from rural areas — with those with better opportunities in life. It’s not right to fail them as many of them improve after they graduate and take up jobs.”
What’s the pass criterion, then? “If we realise that students have made efforts in learning, we let them pass. Only hopeless students who can’t write alphabets are failed,” the professor said.
The BU vice-chancellor denied the role of liberal valuation in high pass percentages. “Only merit students opt for Bangalore University. Unlike undergraduate students, PG students are serious about studying. This explains the high pass percentage in the university. Liberal valuation is only a minor factor in it,” said KR Venugopal, VC, BU.
BU’s science lecturers said their subject has tough practicals and projects. Yet, MSc pass percentage is higher than that in other states.
‘Need systemic change now’
Mangalore University registrar (evaluation) V Ravindrachary said, “PG students are more focused and less distracted. And the semester system has reduced the syllabus load.”
A former BU faculty member and currently with Bengaluru Central University said: “Students get full marks in internal assessment and the valuation is liberal. We wanted to address the issue here and make education more meaningful. However, it was met with stiff resistance. Some faculty members pointed out that while students of other universities will get good marks, our students will lose out in the competition. It requires a systemic change now.”
Of the various post-graduate programmes, MSc has relatively low pass percentage at 85%, but up 7% from June 2017.
The story repeats in the rest of the state. In Kuvempu University, MA pass percentage is at 98, MCom 95 and MSc 94 in the second-semester results announced in July 2019. In Mangalore University, the overall pass percentage in post-graduate programmes is 94. In its autonomous colleges, the results are higher — 96.06%. In Mysore University, MCom passes stood at 92% during 2018-19.
Admitting they are “extremely liberal in valuation”, a BU English professor said: “It’s unfair to compare most of our students — primarily from rural areas — with those with better opportunities in life. It’s not right to fail them as many of them improve after they graduate and take up jobs.”
What’s the pass criterion, then? “If we realise that students have made efforts in learning, we let them pass. Only hopeless students who can’t write alphabets are failed,” the professor said.
The BU vice-chancellor denied the role of liberal valuation in high pass percentages. “Only merit students opt for Bangalore University. Unlike undergraduate students, PG students are serious about studying. This explains the high pass percentage in the university. Liberal valuation is only a minor factor in it,” said KR Venugopal, VC, BU.
BU’s science lecturers said their subject has tough practicals and projects. Yet, MSc pass percentage is higher than that in other states.
‘Need systemic change now’
Mangalore University registrar (evaluation) V Ravindrachary said, “PG students are more focused and less distracted. And the semester system has reduced the syllabus load.”
A former BU faculty member and currently with Bengaluru Central University said: “Students get full marks in internal assessment and the valuation is liberal. We wanted to address the issue here and make education more meaningful. However, it was met with stiff resistance. Some faculty members pointed out that while students of other universities will get good marks, our students will lose out in the competition. It requires a systemic change now.”
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