Evaluation havoc hits DU students

EXAMINATION RUCKUS

As if chaos created by the introduction of the semester system was not enough, here comes a doosra for the already suffering students of Delhi University (DU). In a recent development, where experiments are still going on after decades of successful functioning of DU, some students were awarded more marks than maximum while toppers in their respective subjects were ‘failed’!

The goof-ups came to light when a student studying French was awarded 102 out of 100! A BSc student scored 65 out of 50 in Paper I and 74 on 50 in Paper 2. Another one was shocked to receive 57 out of 55 in his Mathematics paper.   

Abha Dev Habib, member, Executive Committee, Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) is furious with the shoddy work, even though she begins by defending the blunders. “We have to check papers of nearly 1.5 lakh students. It is tremendous work. Teachers get exhausted with the sheer volume.

Earlier evaluation was once a year but now (because of the semester system) things have become worse. If you bring reforms after reforms and no stability in the system, then these things are bound to happen. The administration is going mad and such malfunctioning will hamper the students’ future.”

Aarushi Massey, a IInd year History student of St. Stephens blames the college for the mess. “There are three lecturers checking one single paper! Where have you seen or heard of three teachers checking a single paper? There are a total of four-five questions and you need three teachers to evaluate them? This mess was inevitable.”

The trouble does not end there. If a student decides to go in for a revaluation, he/she has to shell out a neat sum. “The revaluation fee is so high. Rs 750 for a simple retotalling and Rs 1000 for revaluation of each paper. Students cannot even afford such amounts. We have such unprofessional officials too.

One has to wait for months before one gets the fresh results. Things are mismanaged pre and post. The University is definitely playing with our future,” fumes Aarushi.

Known for producing bright students, the Delhi University has been headed downhill in the last couple of years. Impractical proposals and excessive experimentation across board is a nightmare that both students and faculty are being subjected to. The biggest sufferers, in the end, are the students.

Another student Shelja Singla of Kalindi College, says, “The college is not helping the students. They have goofed up with the internal and theory marks as well. There is no co-ordination among teachers either. Nobody knows what is going on in the University.”

In an institution where lakhs of students’ future is at stake, the onus of rectifying the mess also lies with the authorities who created it in the first place. Is anyone listening?