Mass Media students ask MU to revoke 75:25 semester system

The students claim that the 75:25 system has very few practicals and leans more on the theory aspect.

The academic council, in a meeting held in April 2014, passed the 75:25 semester system.

A section of Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) students have come together to protest Mumbai University’s (MU) 75:25 semester system of marking. These students filed a petition with MU’s students grievance cell asking the varsity to revoke the system, stating that it is not appropriate for a course like BMM. Following the petition, the varsity has decided to review the 75:25 system and take suggestions from all stakeholders.

The academic council, in a meeting held in April 2014, passed the 75:25 semester system, under which the main theory exam will be of 75 marks and 25 marks will be allotted for internal assessment. Of the 25 marks, 20 marks will be for internal tests, while the remaining five marks will be awarded for attendance and class performance. This marking scheme is applicable for undergraduate courses under the university.

The students claim that the 75:25 system has very few practicals and leans more on the theory aspect. “The theory part will carry 75 per cent weightage, whereas practicals, which are more important for a course like BMM, carry only 20 percent weightage as the remaining five marks will be awarded for attendance. This does not serve the purpose of our course,” said a student.

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The earlier adopted 60:40 marking scheme in 2011 was criticized after TY BCom results for 2012 were out. The academic council then decided to scale down marks of students whose internal assessment scores differed by more than 20 per cent. The subjects in which students’ marks have been scaled down would be shown on the mark-sheet with a downward arrow. The marks of students who have failed the exam would not be scaled down. The students’ union and teachers took an opposite stand to this policy. Complying with the opposition, the University accepted the 75:25 marking scheme in line with the UGC norms.

“The 60:40 system which was appropriate for every course was criticized by everyone and later revoked. Now when varsity has introduced the 75:25 marks, again people are criticising it,” said Dinesh Punjwani, principal of R D National college.

Naresh Chandra, Pro-VC, MU, said, “Some people still feel 60:40 is appropriate. However that system was revoked to implement this new 75:25 system which was unanimously decided by members of academic council.

dipti.singh@expressindia.com

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