High scores baffle DU teachers, students

The high percentages Delhi University (DU) students have scored in the first semester examinations have left their seniors and teachers in a fix. Mallica Joshi reports. New pattern

The high percentages Delhi University (DU) students have scored in the first semester examinations have left their seniors and teachers in a fix.

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While teachers are baffled by the unusually high percentages scored by the students, the second and third year students are wondering if they were “so much worse” than the new batches.

"Had it happened in one discipline one could have thought that perhaps there was a tabulation error or some other problem. But students in philosophy have scored 93%, which is unheard of in the history of DU. In my subject, English, a student from Kamla Nehru College has scored 80% and is the topper. Till last year, students would not score more than 65% in the first year," said Sanam Khanna, who teaches at Kamla Nehru College.

Teachers are wondering if some extra marks were added to ensure that the number of first divisions shot up. “It seems some extra marks have been added to ensure not many get less marks. This makes the good students suffer as it undermines their effort,” said a teacher.

“I got calls from students wondering if they were so bad compared to the new batches. They are insecure as they may be forced to compete for the same jobs and scholarships in future. And here, marks will make a difference. I am all for giving more marks to deserving students, but it should be clarified by DU that the marking pattern has changed, so that former students do not suffer,” Khanna said.

But a senior DU official remained non-committal. “Maybe the children were exceptionally bright or the paper very easy. Also, students had lesser syllabus to cover this time around. Perhaps, that is the reason. But in the past, courses that have turned to the semester mode have seen better results,” the official said.