Mahatma Gandhi University has embarked on an ambitious drive to modernise its examination procedures aimed at checking the loopholes in the existing system.
As part of the programme, the university had introduced bar-coded stitched answer books containing 24 pages, for the first semester examinations for the choice-based credit and semester system.
Elaborating on the initiatives being made by the university, Rajan Varughese, Pro-Vice Chancellor, told The Hindu recently that the chances of malpractices will be few as there will be no need for using additional/loose sheets by implementing these answer books.
The university has developed software for the transfer of data from the valuation camps to the university and implemented online transmission of valued data (grades) from the centralised valuation centres to the computer wing of the university during the valuation of answer books.
Dr. Varughese said that this enabled the university to enter data easily and speedily. In the computer wing, the data received from the valuation camps was compiled with the internal grades submitted by the colleges and results were finalised.
The university took utmost care in finalising the results by checking the data received online with the marks awarded by the teachers, he said.
But there was a slight delay in the finalisation of the first semester results (finalised on January 30) on account of the delay in conducting the practical examinations and in order to see that the data entered was correctly recorded.
“However, it is to be noted that for the first time in the examination history, all the results of the first semester programmes that include Model-I, II, III and UGC sponsored – total 116 programmes - could be published simultaneously,” Dr. Varughese said.
Pointing out that the university has designed new formats for grade sheets under the new scheme and grade cards of first semester examinations were prepared, the Pro Vice-Chancellor said that these were issued at the Principals' meeting held on May 4 and 5. Explaining that the university has developed software for the online submission of internal grades, Dr. Varughese said that the Principals of the affiliated colleges can submit the internal grades to the university online using the codes provided to them. “This will also help the university ensure easy and speedy compilation of grades and finalisation of results. The colleges were directed to submit the internal grades in hard copy also duly signed by the class teacher, Head of the Department and Principal and this will facilitate the university to verify the veracity of the data being submitted by the colleges online,” he said.
