Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Question paper mix-up exposes flaws in examination system

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The mix-up in the question papers given to candidates appearing for the part one examinations of the B.A./B.Sc. of the University of Kerala — twice in the space of three months — has exposed systemic flaws in the conduct of examinations in the university.

On May 26, candidates who were to write the part one paper one examinations according to the 2005 syllabus found that they were issued question papers based on the 2006 syllabus. The university’s explanation was that a preliminary inquiry had found that the question paper setter had ‘failed’ to set questions as per the 2005 syllabus. The examinations were consequently postponed to June 2.

But then this was precisely what had happened on February 26. That day, candidates who were to write the examinations as per the 2005 syllabus—these were students who had repeatedly failed to clear these examinations—found to their consternation that their question paper was based on the 2006 syllabus. Then too the university’s explanation was that the question paper setter had committed a blunder.

The question is, what did the university do to prevent a repeat of February 26, which certainly was not a first-of-its-kind incident? There was a flurry of meetings, including a special meeting of the syndicate. The controller of examinations was asked to give explanations. Many members of the Left-controlled syndicate wanted to either remove the controller of examinations—a teacher herself and the wife of a prominent Congress leader—or at least suspend her from service.

The syndicate decided later that from the March 2008 examinations onwards the scrutiny board which checks question papers for accuracy and conformity with syllabi would meet at the university headquarters itself. None of these decisions helped the varsity prevent a repeat of February 26.

On both occasions the blunder of the question paper setter got past the scrutiny board. The difference is, this time round the office of the controller of examinations got the scrutiny board to send the minutes of its meetings. These minutes record that the board—led by the chairman of the board for question papers and having four members—scrutinised the question papers for the part one examinations and found nothing amiss. In February the office of the controller of examinations did not get such minutes.

The most that the university can do about the question paper setter — this time it is a senior teacher at the Mahatma Gandhi University— is to de-bar him from such work. This may actually prove a blessing in disguise to many teachers. The university cannot take any action against members of the board or against its chairman for the same reason: none of them serve under the University of Kerala.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Team finetunes two-stroke engine
NCC naval unit camp ends
Question paper mix-up exposes flaws in examination system
Vector control measures: time to rethink strategies?
Animation film design course
Supplyco staff stage protest against ‘harassment’
Reflecting the ethos of a nation
Nehru remembered
‘Kadaltheerathu’ adjudged best
Workshop
IVFK to be an annual event
Probe into illegal sale of plantations
Youth Congress march turns violent
Making the most of prison life
CBSE schools put up a good show
Judge’s house attacked
Satyagraha continues
Valedictory function held
Machine fault hits angio procedure
Coir to be used in road work, says Minister
Leak in water authority pipeline
Airlines to fully refund taxes
Karim: Rs.10,000-crore investment in State soon
Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu