Chennai: In a rare move, the Anna University has debarred over 1,100 faculty members from valuation following variations in marks in over 50,000 answer scripts of students who appeared for April/May 2017 exams. The punishment varies from one to three years proportionate to the variation of marks. The answer scripts had variations up to 40 marks.
The university has formed an enquiry committee on the variations in marks. As suggested by the expert committee, they have banned faculty members for one year for variations up to 20 marks, two years for variation up to 30 marks and three years for up to 40 marks.
Roughly 15,000 faculty members were involved in the valuation. After the results, engineering graduates had sought revaluation for 2.5 lakh answer scripts. “Of 2.5 lakh scripts roughly 50,000 scripts had marks variation. Keeping the welfare of the students in mind, the higher education department has decided debar the faculty members for their sloppy evaluation. This will prompt the teachers to evaluate the answer scripts carefully”, said G.V.Uma, Controller of Examinations, Anna University.
The university did not punish the faculty members for up to 15 marks variation as the evaluation and awarding of marks vary to each individual. “A majority of answer sheets had marks variations between 20 and 30 marks. The university conducted an inquiry with the faculty members in three centres like in Chennai, Tiruchy and Coimbatore”, she said.
Around 12 lakh students write engineering exams every semester in the state. Usually, after the revaluation, if there is any difference in marks the university will conduct a third valuation. If the third valuation also confirms the marks variation, the faculty members would be asked to give explanation and if it is not satisfactory the faculty members face action for their laxity. But such action was not taken in the last few years.
“The university used to take strict action for sloppy evaluation of answer sheets. But, recently, it did not initiate any disciplinary action against the erring faculty members which has brought the quality of evaluation down”, senior professors said. “Earlier, the revaluation was done zone wise. This time it was done at a single centre for all over Tamil Nadu and that’s why the huge difference in marks came to light”, they added.
“The number of engineering students who seek revaluation is very high because of the change in the status from fail to pass”, said B.Chidambara Rajan, principal, Valliammai Engineering College. He said the clarity in answer key would solve the majority of the issues. The faculty member should know the breakup of marks to be awarded for correct answers. He also suggested centralised evaluation centres for engineering exams to avoid differences in evaluation.
