JOIN USNew syllabus, exam pattern put Ayurveda students in agony
Change in syllabus and examination pattern has put Ayurvedic college students in a tight spot. Late admissions this year have only added to their woes.
While colleges have seen a drastic decline in pass percentage, many students are contemplating discontinuing the course, unable to cope with the syllabus.
The syllabus and examination pattern were changed from the academic year 2012-13. Earlier, students would have to write the exam every one and half years.
Now, this has been changed to an annual scheme. However, the syllabus has not been reduced in tune with the shorter academic year, according to colleges.
Internal exam scrapped
In addition, the internal examination system has been scrapped thus compelling the students to score a minimum of 50 per cent marks to clear the exam.
This year, students will have tougher time compared with the previous year as the academic year began only in November, due to delay in seat approval for colleges and counselling for admissions.
“Only 11 out of 60 students passed the exam in our college this year. Many got 49 marks and failed. The result is very poor and it has become very difficult for the colleges,” said Dr Sharadeshwar, principal of Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Sciences in Bangalore.
He said that the examination pattern had to be made student-friendly.
“A lot of time is lost this year because of delay in admissions. The academic year is supposed to be between August of this year to the same month of next year. But this time, admissions went on till November. We have to keep some time aside for extracurricular activities too. It will be a major blow for students,” he said.
This is the case with several colleges across the State. In Muniyal Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences, Manipal, only 10 students of the 40 students enrolled for the course passed, according to the college principal Dr Roopa Bhat.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, she said many students in the college were expressing difficulty in continuing the course as a result of the pressure mounted on them. The new syllabus has more chapters from modern medicine.
“The syllabus was meant for one and half years. Students have to now finish studying the same in one year,” she lamented. She added that they have sought a change in the exam pattern by Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS)
Workshops for lecturers
The Central Council of Indian Medicine has begun allowing MBBS faculty to teach aspects of modern medicine to Ayurveda students so that it would not put too much burden on the faculty of Ayurvedic colleges, said Dr Gurulinganagouda Basanagouda Patil, a member from Karnataka in the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
“Colleges can take the help of visiting physicians,” he added.
He acknowledged that the question paper pattern needed alterations and that they would look into it.
However, there are no plans at present to change the exam pattern. It will take a year or two for the new system to settle in.
The Council has begun conducting workshops for Ayurvedic college lecturers to help them with the new syllabus, Dr Patil said.