Examinership to be made compulsory

MUMBAI, MAY 10: The state government will attempt to infuse a dose of regulation into the examination system. The government has proposed...

MUMBAI, MAY 10: The state government will attempt to infuse a dose of regulation into the examination system. The government has proposed amendments to the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, to be tabled in the winter session, to make examinership compulsory and scrap the system of re-valuation of results. The proposed amendments aim at plugging longstanding systemic loopholes like delay in results and appointment of examiners, and envisage a greater role played by the state in the conducting of exams.

Minister for higher and technical education, Datta Rane, recently held a two hour long meeting, the first of its kind, with the Controller of Examiners of all the nine non-agricultural universities in the state. In another first, a workshop for conduction of examinations, will be held at Nagpur by the state government in July.

8220;The large scale delay in declaring results is alarming. And the University of Mumbai is the worst example of this. Authorities pleaded a lack of examiners, but I pointed out theinstances of Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Uttar Maharashtra University, Jalgaon and Swami Ramanand Tirth University, Nanded which have issued ordinances making examinership compulsory in the last year. Consequently, results are declared on time in these universities8221;, Rane told Express Newsline.

But the state government still has no plans to hike the paltry honorarium of Rs five per paper paid to examiners. 8220;The Fifth pay Commission hiked teachers8217; salaries. Still, if varsities feel that their honorariums as examiner should be hiked, let them move the suggestion,8221; maintained Rane.

Section 71, 72 and 81 g of the MU Act, which varsities like University of Mumbai has flouted with impunity, will also be strictly enforced, said Rane. The government has also asked varsity representatives to sumbit details of examinations procedures in use. 8220;Why are students increasingly demanding for re-valuation? More importantly, why do marks usually increase after re-valuation? It only goes to show thatmoderation is not being done properly,8221; held Rane. 8220;The Shivaji University and Swami Ramanand, for instance, have topped re-valuation altogether by making moderation a hundred percent affair.8221;

The state government will also insist that the procedure of appointment of examiners be shared with . The universities nay also have to give the state government information on methods used to curb copying. 8220;Universities can institute private vigilance squads. If an instance of copying is detected, there should be a police report. I will also make surprise visits to the colleges during examination times8221;, he explained.

Sections ignored

SECTION 71 of the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994 reads: At the beginning of each term and not later than October 30 of every calendar year, the university shall prepare and publish a schedule of examinations for each and every course conducted by it or by any affiliated college or institution within its jurisdiction and shall strictly adhere to the schedule. In casethe university is unable to follow this, it shall submit a report to the Chancellor and the state government detailing the reasons for not sticking to the schedule.

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SECTION 72 of the Act says; If for any reason the university is unable to finally declare the results of any examination within the maximum period of 45 days, it shall submit a report incorporating the detailed reasons for such delay to the Chancellor and to the state government.

SECTION 81 g says: The services of all teaching and non-teaching employees and the facilities of the college to be affiliated shall be made available for conducting examinations and for promoting other activities of the university.