The MG University decides to give students a second chance to clear the internal tests to prevent the misuse of the system A group of final-year engineering students came to me with a complaint three months ago. They had passed all papers in the university examinations but failed one of the internal tests.
They were failed by the class teacher and the department head at the behest of the college principal and manager. Their crime: they protested the unfair imposition of fines on some students.
Another boy came to see me with his mother a few days ago. He was admitted to an engineering course on merit. He had secured over 90 percent marks in all the exams. He passed all the exams conducted by the university but failed in the internal exam for one paper. Apparently, he had not shown enough respect to the department head.
His mother, a widow, was in tears when she pleaded for the future of his son. She had mortgaged her properties and borrowed heavily to support her son's studies.
More and more such complaints are being received at the Mahatma Gandhi University. Some of the students are not even allowed to write the examinations because they are not given the minimum mark in the internal exams.
Many others are still without a degree even after passing all the university exams just because they have not passed in the internal exams.
Even though such complaints are rampant in professional colleges, there are a few arts and sciences colleges that follow the disturbing pattern.
All the aggrieved students think either the college management, principal, head of the department or the class teacher is trying to show them their place.
Kerala's universities have no dearth of students who are pushed against a wall even after passing all exams in 12 years of school and three or four years of college.
Internal evaluation was a lofty idea when the Kerala Education Department and the universities in the state introduced it. The mechanism was intended to ensure higher standards in education through continuous and comprehensive evaluation.
The aim was to measure the knowledge of students through diverse scales rather than relying on a memory-based test held once a year or once a semester.
Different studies have proved that the quality of education had been elevated through the evaluation of the knowledge, character, communication skills, analytical skills and punctuality of students through various means including projects, assignments, seminars, class test and attendance in classes.
Yet, the system designed to ensure quality education and an increase of knowledge, is being misused for intimidating students rampantly.
Teachers have an obligation to put the internal evaluation to good use. Their duty is to aid the development of students, not to hang the system like a sword over their heads.
A student is not allowed a second chance to clear the internal tests. That rule is being misused now.
The Mahatma Gandhi University’s academic council and syndicate have taken a decision to give students a second chance to clear the internal tests to ensure that no more students are bogged down by the abuse of the mechanism.
(The writer is the vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University)
