HYDERABAD: In a move to ensure transparency in the system, the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH) may consider the option of placing the answer sheets on the web or issue a copy of it at least if failed students apply for revaluation.
A committee was constituted a few days ago to suggest transparency in evaluation after students from various affiliated colleges protested alleging faulty valuation which resulted in a large number of students failing in the exams. The committee headed by JNTUH Rector N.V. Ramana Rao was asked to suggest measures for transparent valuation.
Photocopies suggested
Though the committee is yet to begin its work, senior teachers have apparently expressed their views to the higher ups in the administration that issuing photocopies of answer sheets will bring in the required transparency and the varsity can escape the blame by students. “Parents can know what their kids are writing,” a senior teacher said.
JNTUH Vice Chancellor A. Venugopal Reddy, when contacted, said the committee will study all the suggestions and options. He agreed that giving photocopies of answer sheets will drive away all apprehensions and also make the valuators more accountable. The committee has also been asked to study the feasibility of placing answer sheets on the web, he said.
Providing answer sheets is not new in the State. In a highly competitive exam like EAMCET, candidates can access their Optical Mark Reader (OMR) sheets online. Even the Board of Intermediate Education (BIE) provides answer sheet copies to students on payment of a fee. In fact, after this facility, complaints over faulty valuation have dropped considerably.
Poor quality of students
Senior teachers argue that though there might be some discrepancies and human errors in valuation, university evaluation system itself cannot be blamed for the failures. One should also look at the quality of students joining engineering courses due to easy availability of seats.
Officials also blame the private colleges that refuse to send good teachers for valuation. Existing norms, however, ensure that each paper is checked by another teacher after valuation. The chief examiner also picks up 5 % of papers at random for revaluation and fixes accountability on valuators if discrepancies are found. At the end of this huge exercise, officials also agree, one can always find some discrepancy somewhere as there is lot of human element involved in it.
