University staff crisis leaves its mark on exams

Bangalore University is trying to overcome a staff crisis in its biotechnology, microbiology and electronics departments with an arrangement...

Bangalore University is trying to overcome a staff crisis in its biotechnology, microbiology and electronics departments with an arrangement that often leaves an M Sc student’s answer papers with a B Sc-level teacher.

Facing a shortage of lecturers, the university has roped in research students and part-timers for evaluation in theory and practical exams. Senior college teachers say allowing ‘‘inexperienced’’ teachers to mark papers will undermine academic standards in a subject like biotechnology. Lecturers with just one year of undergraduate teaching do not know enough to evaluate M Sc papers, they said.

‘‘A zoology research student working as a part-time B Sc lecturer in a private college was sent to us as an external examiner for M Sc practicals, which concluded on Saturday,’’ says a lecturer from one of the first colleges to offer biotechnology in Karnataka. ‘‘He evaluated our students on cell biology and genetics but how much can a zoology researcher know about these subjects?’’

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University rules allow only teachers with seven years of experience to mark answer papers. Examiners for practicals should have at least three years of experience. Vice-Chancellor M.S. Thimmappa, however, points to a provision by which teachers with less experience can be used during critical situations provided they are recommended by the chairperson of the board of examiners.

‘‘We are facing a shortage as nobody is willing to take up teaching jobs in these subjects. Everyone is joining companies as they pay very well.’’

‘‘Where are the experienced teachers for us to choose from? Such a situation will certainly not arise in a subject like history,’’ says Thimmappa.

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