Journalism of Courage
Students from over 600 affiliated colleges of Savitribai Phule Pune University have demanded scrapping of an ‘unfair’ re-evaluation rule. According to the system, re-evaluation marks will be shared with students only if the difference between the original marks and the marks obtained after re-evaluation exceeds by at least 10 per cent of the maximum marks of a particular subject.
Students have claimed that the rule, which was introduced in 2011, was unjust to candidates who failed by marginal marks. The students’ community has stressed the need of bringing in an ordinance by scrapping the existing one.
Though the rule empowers the vice-chancellor to have a ‘second opinion’ in ‘extreme cases’ of re-evaluation, students alleged that the discretion was hardly used in the interest of students. Yogesh Markad, a student leader, said engineering students were worst hit by the system.
“Several engineering students, who fail to clear subjects by very few marks, apply for the re-evaluation facility in the hope to get better results. University authorities cannot arbitrarily put a limit of 10 per cent to avail the re-evaluation benefit. This rule does not make sense as students have every right to know the change of even a single mark in their score,” he said, demanding the rule be scrapped.
“The university condition of 10 per cent difference in marks to share re-evaluation outcome with students has no rationale. Such rules are not in the interest of students. It just decreases the workload of university administration. Officials should frame rules keeping students in mind and not their convenience,” activist Vivek Velankar said.
Shridhar Deo, vice-principal of RMD Sinhgad School of Engineering, who is also a university senate member, said the 10 per cent difference of marks to share re-evaluation results was acceptable considering the difference of opinion in the assessment process.
Vice-Chancellor Wasudeo Gade said students’ demand to amend the condition of 10 per cent difference in marks for result change would be considered. “The demand would be discussed during the meeting of the university management council. It is a competent body to amend examination-related ordinance, if needed,” he said. Gade maintained that he had used powers and ensured ‘second opinion’ and even ‘third opinion’ in re-evaluation cases where interests of students were at stake.
