RGUHS to scrap challenge evaluation

The decision to scrap CE was approved in the RGUHS Academic Council meeting, held earlier this month and the system will be abolished for undergraduate and postgraduate courses with effect from June 2010.

The results of the examinations for the undergraduate and postgraduate courses will now be announced based on the comprehensive evaluation  conducted by the faculty members.

The CE system, which was introduced in January 2008, had caused tremendous dissatisfaction among students and burdened lecturers with the excessive evaluation work.

Based on the opinion of students and inputs from teachers from medical colleges across the State and with the consent of RGUHS syndicate, the decision to put away the system was taken.

The new system

In the absence of the CE, evaluation of a subject will be done by two evaluators. Under this process, if a difference of more than 15 per cent is found in the marks, then a third evaluator will be permitted to correct the paper. This is applicable for undergraduate courses.

In the same manner, if a difference of more than 15 per cent is seen in four evaluators’ marks allotted for postgraduate courses, a fifth evaluator will be assigned.

Dr S Sacchidanand, Registrar-Evaluation, RGUHS explained: “The average of marks obtained from two evaluators’ correction will be finalised for UG courses. In PG courses, of the four evaluators the two highest marks awarded will be taken into consideration and an average of these two marks will be the final score. The final results of the examinations will be announced based on comprehensive evaluation of papers.”

However, with the scrapping of CE, students will be able to avail the benefits of re-totalling only.

The CE highlighted the differences in the marks which varies from person to person, thus posing a problem to students.

At the same time, lecturers were burdened with evaluation work all round the year, disturbing the regular schedule.

“Suggestions of setting up model answers for evaluation was floated. But for 9,000 question papers that are set for every examination each year, model answers was humanly impossible,” Dr Sacchidanand explained.

The Registrar added: “In the system of CE, students had to bear the extra expense of evaluation. But now, the varsity will take on the expense of employing the extra evaluator.”

The principals of medical colleges are expected to be notified at the earliest about the decision to abolish CE.