3 weeks after exams, first-year degree papers still not checked

Teachers are anxious about this delay as this automatically hints at a delay in the results being announced.

Three weeks after the first-year degree college examinations began, teachers are yet to start assessments of the same. Reason: Colleges are yet to receive the model answer booklet promised by the university, on the basis of which, assessments are supposed to take place.

Colleges are yet to receive the model answer booklet promised by the university, on the basis of which, assessments are supposed to take place. (HT File Photo)

“The process is stuck as the university has made it clear that assessments will be conducted based on their model answers. Ideally, assessment of papers should begin three days after the exam is over, but this time round, there seems to be no set schedule being followed,” said Marie Fernandes, principal, St Andrew’s College, Bandra.

She added that teachers are anxious about this delay as this automatically hints at a delay in the results being announced.

This is the first time that the University of Mumbai decided to conduct common examinations for first-year degree students.

“We are doing what the university asked us to do, but postponing assessment by three weeks is unacceptable. Teachers will now get overworked. Not only do they have to conduct regular lectures, but also complete paper assessment over the next few weeks, which is otherwise done during vacations,” said the Arts faculty head of a suburban college.

When HT spoke to Deepak Wasave, MU’s Controller of Examinations (CoE), he said the process was underway. “We sent reminders to the subject chairpersons to put together the model answer booklet. It will be sent to colleges at the earliest. Students should not worry,” he said.

First such common examinations

This is the first time that University of Mumbai decided to conduct common examinations for first year degree students. While students will be appearing for the examination in heir respective colleges and the answer booklets too will be assessed by their college teachers, the question paper will be set up by the university. The schedule too has been set up by MU

Initially MU had decided to hold first year degree examinations before Diwali vacations, but colleges had raised objections to this schedule especially since first year classes began late this year and colleges were not sure they’ll mange to compete the syllabus before Diwali vacations. A new schedule was released, pushing all first year degree examinations to after vacations.

With many colleges raising concerns about conducting first year examinations as per the common timetable, MU officials have invited colleges to share all their concerns in order to come up with possible solutions