A file photo of Kuvempu University campus at Shankarghatta in Bhadravathi taluk.
DH Photo
A tug of war between guest faculty working in various first grade colleges in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts and Kuvempu University over cut in remuneration for evaluation is likely to delay degree examination results. The degree exams were concluded last month.
The university authorities claimed that the evaluators have been reporting for evaluation in five centres - Koppa, Kadur, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Sagar for digital evaluation. But on the contrary, many guest faculty claimed that they have not received remote access as promised by the university for digital evaluation.
Speaking to DH, Kuvempu University Registrar (Evaluation) S M Gopinath said around 800 teachers are expected to evaluate around 4.5 lakh answer scripts of second, fourth and sixth semester examinations of 65,000 degree students.
Remote access
“We will provide remote access to the evaluators by creating an ID for them after getting details of them from the heads of respective boards of studies. The evaluation is livestreamed and they can’t cheat in any manner. As of now, around 80 teachers are evaluating answer scripts of BCom as the number of commerce students is more when compared with other courses,” he informed.
Gopinath also admitted that without the support of guest faculty, it is not possible to complete academic activities including evaluation as they form 70%. The university has only 30% staff that are permanent.
On remuneration, he said the government issued an order reducing the remuneration of evaluation.
“It had to be approved in the syndicate meeting which takes places once in two months. A special meeting of syndicate members was convened and obtained approval,” Gopinath said. “Since it is the government’s decision, we have nothing to do with it. This has disappointed the guest faculty. However, we are hopeful that the evaluation of degree examinations would be completed by the end of July,” he hoped.
When DH contacted, a guest faculty serving in a private college in Shivamogga city, on condition of anonymity said most English lecturers have not reported for evaluation yet as the remuneration per answer script has been reduced from Rs 22 to Rs 14. Besides, the travel allowance has been reduced from Rs 1,100 to Rs 850. “Though we discharge our duties for a meagre salary throughout the year, it would be unfair to reduce remuneration for evaluation as well. The room invigilation fee of examination has been reduced from Rs 250 to Rs 125 for three hours. All these factors have demoralised the guest faculty,” he reasoned.