KU revamps evaluation system; Asks evaluators to cooperate

Srinagar: In a major overhaul of the ailing examination paper checking system in the University of Kashmir, authorities have issued a circular to the evaluators asking them to follow certain guidelines ‘very strictly’.

Sources say some senior members of the university had picked loopholes in the paper checking system and following their recommendations the university has issued the circular.
The move came after the varsity had to face major embarrassment in 2011 when over 26 per cent of the students of Ist year annual batch were declared pass after applying for re-evaluation.
“In 2011, more than 4,000 students of Ist year (annual batch) who were declared fail by the authorities applied for re-evaluation. And after re-evaluating 1025 students were declared pass by the authorities. The results came as a shocker for the university and soon the officials geared up themselves to improve the image of the varsity,” sources say.
Sources further say it was only after that incident that the examination department felt the need of putting an effective system in place, in a bid to improve the image of the department.
On Saturday, a circular especially meant for the evaluators was posted on the website of the University which contains 15 points tagged as “important instructions for evaluators”.
The first few points of the circular read, that ‘no question or part of a question should remain unmarked. In particular extreme care should be exercised in case of Q. No.1 where there are 8-10 very short answer type questions’.
“Marks awarded to a question or any part of a question must be written at two places. First, on the perforated top most corner of the answer scripts where the answer of the question ends. Second, on the front page against the serial number of the question, there should be no mismatch between the marks written at two places, i.e. front page and the perforated corner,” reads the circular.
The most important point which has been introduced for the first time is that the authorities have asked the evaluators that “no score or marks should be awarded to a question where the answer is crossed even though the answer is correct to the extent of 100 %. However, the matter should be reported immediately to the controller of the examinations for further necessary action,” reads the circular.
The circular further reads that the assignment of evaluation should be completed within the stipulated time period.
“Please ensure the declaration of the result within the quickest possible period of time,” the document reads.
The document has further asked the evaluators not to commit unnecessary or grave mistakes as the RTI act has been implemented in the state and the students can benefit themselves from the act and thus the omissions committed can defame the university.
“Any compromise with the instructions mentioned can seriously discount your honour and integrity and the name and fame of our A-grade institution,” the document reads.
The authorities have also asked the evaluators that in order to survive public scrutiny they must ensure that none of their relatives including (brother, sister, son, daughter, cousin, nephew, niece, spouse, brother-in-law, sister-in-law or any other relative financially dependent on you) have appeared in the said examination.
Sources say the move has been encouraged by the newly appointed registrar Zafar Reshi who has also asked for the strict adherence to the guidelines.
-KDNN