Teachers say they were made to give pass marks to failed students
The Anna University on Monday constituted a three-member committee to look into a charge that some students who had failed in the exams were given pass marks by a few assistant professors who were allegedly forced to do so.
“We have formed a three-member committee to probe the allegations,” said Anna University Vice Chancellor Mannar Jawahar, whose term ends on Tuesday. However, he was unwilling to disclose the names of the three committee members stating that it would not be appropriate at this time.
The malpractice came to light after a senior professor informed the Additional Controller of Examinations about the revaluation of marks by an assistant professor of the computer technology department of the Madras Institute of Technology, Chromepet.
Purported copies of a letter written by a senior professor to a higher official, and a letter by the assistant professor concerned to the Chief Minister’s Cell are in circulation in the University. The senior professor’s letter says the assistant professor was asked to revalue 18 subjects on a single day, and that he had boosted the marks to 50 or 60 in all the 18 subjects of one student from the College of Engineering, Guindy, campus.
The assistant professor was made to re-evaluate papers in all the subjects for this particular student, besides all the second and third semester papers of the student. The Additional Controller of Examinations, who had taken charge only then, started collecting the answer scripts and was shocked by the malpractice, senior professors say.
Enquiries reveal that the assistant professor was not willing to go with the idea of revaluation, but was forced by higher-ups. In fact, the Additional Controller of Examinations, after unearthing the racket, was in a dilemma whether to take the issue to the government or leave the post, says a professor close to him.
Meanwhile, the assistant professor has written to the Chief Minister’s Cell hoping for higher level intervention. In his letter dated May 28, 2012, he gives details of what he was made to do and apologised for his deed.
Meanwhile, another assistant professor has also written to the government apologising for giving pass marks to students in some subjects in the examinations held in 2009-10, sources say.
“Because of instructions to reduce failures, we are asked to correct leniently. Even after that, there are always at least nine or 10 dismal cases of students who perform the worst and cannot pass. But mysteriously, some of them get pass marks ultimately,” said a senior professor.
Another professor from the ECE department said, “It is an insult to us and our evaluation, as it means nothing because the students can get pass marks somehow.”
Keywords: Anna University marks scam
Why not put papers in unmarked bundles, shuffle them and post/give them to various examiners to mark? I am sure if there is will this shameful practice can be eliminated. The students who pass like this cannot shine in their profession and in fact bring down the reputation of the institution from which they qualified.
Shameful. The practice of giving pass marks or even higher marks to non-performing students is everywhere in India. In my teaching expereince, I saw many teachers either forced to give more marks or administrative staff knowingly awarding marks while entering to the computer system.No one can prevent this practice unless everyone agreed to be honest and sincere while performing duty.Remember no nation can grow above its teachers.
An innovative technique of marks proration (Make a proportional
settlement or distribution) I found in one of the private institution
during my tenure there. Proration used to provide to the student who
involved in various kind of cultural activity at university level on
the cost of their academia. And it involves desperate pressure from
department of academic affairs over faculty members. It involves the
allocation of marks to the unattended test with same percentage as
previously attempted by the student. Any dis-likeness will leads to embarrassing situation.
Due to lack of appropriate policy by UGC, the big players are used to
with the various irregularity. Some major flaws involves student to
faculty ratio, per head availability of resources, indiscipline caused
by the students with faculty or with administrative personnel and Re-
Re-Re-appear tests, violation of prerequisite before opting a course.
For e.g., a student haven't clear maths and enters into applied math
courses.
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