Varsity8217;s math miracle 8212; 0 = 100

PUNE, JUNE 15: The University of Pune often works magic on its students: it can turn a brilliant book-worm into a quivering wreck, by tur...

PUNE, JUNE 15: The University of Pune often works magic on its students: it can turn a brilliant book-worm into a quivering wreck, by turning his marks around.

Amar Rajmal Kakaria, a student of the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, never in his wildest dreams thought he would end up with two big zeroes.

Consider his record: Kakaria had scored 100 per cent marks in Advanced Accountancy8217; in last year8217;s second year Bachelor of Commerce examination, with an aggregate of 74. This year too, Amar was confident of securing a distinction. Quite so; he scored 78.3 per cent in the final year. This time round, he scored 75 marks in the Advanced Accountancy-II.

While awarding the degree and grades for a three-year course, the university considers the marks of the second and final year. An aggregate marklist of both the years is prepared for the purpose.

However, Kakaria8217;s aggregate marklist for the second and final year had his second year advanced accountancy score of 100 reduced to naught. He was declaredfailed in the final marklist he collected from his college yesterday.

The University has bequeathed Kakaria the stigma that goes with being a failure8217;. No doubt, he wants his 100 marks back. 8220;Had it been a case of wrong marking, I would have applied for revaluation. But it is a mistake in compiling the two years8217; marks,8221; said Kakaria, who is now worried about his admission to the intermediate Company Secretary course.

This is the second time Kakaria has been victim of the university8217;s callousness. In his first year, he was given only 15 out of 100 in Commercial Arithmetics and Statistics. Revaluation revealed he had scored 95. The examination section later acknowledged the mistake.

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The university has, however, announced its plans to introduce the moderation system as a foolproof method of assessment for all degree courses. Moderation is purportedly aimed at phasing out the revaluation system, which, according to the university authorities, is often misused by a large number of students.

Under themoderation system, the answer sheets will first be assessed by examiners and then by moderators, who will ensure correct marking and point out mistakes, if any, in the marking by examiners. The ratio of examiners to moderators will be five to one.

The answer sheets of students who have failed by 15 per cent marks and those who have received 70 per cent or above marks, will be reassessed by moderators. Among the answer papers that show marks between 40 per cent and 70 per cent, five per cent of randomly selected sheets will be reassessed.