Mumbai: Exam fever is no longer limited to worrying about how difficult your paper will be; it’s also about whether you have received the correct question paper. Students of Bachelors of Mass Media (BMM) lived the nightmare on two successive days, with Mumbai University and exam centres deciding to serve them with wrong papers for the final term exams.
On Friday, confusion reigned at colleges in Grant Road, as well as those in Khar and Juhu, where students were appearing for their exam in Advertising. Shivani Jariwala, who was appearing for the exam at Sophia’s College, said, “I was unaware about the mix-up till one of our college professors asked for the Question Paper Code (which students need to fill in the answer sheet). While my paper was easy, it’s an unfair and extremely scary situation to be in. The way things have been going with Mumbai University, everything is scary.”
Big blunder
Meher Kothari, also a Sophia College student, said it was a big blunder. “I did panic a lot as the thought of giving the paper again was devastating.” Drishti Valecha, another student said, “It is really irresponsible on the part of the college to make such a mistake. I think they have forgotten that atleast in India, exams and grades matter to most students and such blunders scare us to death.”
On Wednesday, students specialising in Journalism, who were appearing for the subject Press Laws and Ethics at centres in Kalyan, Dadar and Matunga were given the question paper meant for repeaters. Sachin Khasturia, who took the exam at Seth Hirachand Mutha college, Kalyan, said, “After finishing my exam, I got home and discussed the question paper with my friend whose centre was in South Mumbai. We verified our respective Question Paper Codes and got to know that we had completely different papers.”
Added tension
Mr. Khasturia said he hoped the authorities do not pass the buck to students, as they did at his centre. “Exam stress is already enough, as this is our final semester. In addition to career and life tensions we have this. My centre, in fact, made us sign an undertaking saying students are responsible for it. It’s unfair.”
Students at Khalsa, Kirti and Ruia College had a similar complaint.
MU clarifies
Meanwhile, the university has said no student will be made to suffer, and the error will be dealt with fairly. Said Vinod Malale, PRO, Mumbai University, “It is the colleges’ fault as they did not check while downloading the question papers sent to them through a server link. The link has other question papers too. Hence, incase of journalism students, the question paper for 2015-16 was downloaded and for Advertising, the question paper for 2014-15 was given to students. Irrespective of whose fault this was, the University will make sure that students don’t have to suffer.”
