Saurabh Sharma
Even as the Board of Examination and Evaluation of Mumbai University is struggling to announce the third year results of students, it is now learnt that over 2,000 professors have failed to examine a single paper so far.
This ‘zero’ paper checking policy adopted by professors is cited as the main reason for the delay in results and sources state that the number is likely to increase in the coming days. Frustrated by this non-cooperation, officials told Aapla Mahanagar that the board is seriously considering action against these non-performing professors.
As it is known, the University of Mumbai adopted an online method of assessment of all papers since last year and the contract for this massive IT upgradation was given to a company called Merit Track. The officials took huge risk when the assessment of all courses was made online without basic training for the assessing professors. The technical glitches and constant complaints by professors who found it difficult to log in created chaos and delayed results for whopping four months causing trauma for thousands of graduating students.
This year, the board of examination and evaluation claimed that they were much prepared for the online assessment. They organised training programmes for the professors, offered them dashboard logins and a weekly remuneration plan was given to professors to ensure they register for assessments!
Despite this, 2,000 odd professors have refused to register and they include several department heads and senior faculty. It is learnt that the board is working on a report on this non-cooperation stand and is likely to submit a report to the vice chancellor Suhas Pednekar.
“The situation was same last year and the University failed to act tough and that’s why we are facing a grave crisis. 2,000 odd professors refusing to assess papers is a serious issue. I hope the board of examination and evaluation acts tough and we are going to meet the vice chancellor on this issue soon,” said Sudhakar Tamboli, senate member, Mumbai University.
The assessment number game
Mumbai University conducts around 402 exams annually for 4 lakh odd students. Over 12,000 professors have registered to assess 15,38,000 exam papers. As per rules, the total number of assessing professors should be 1.5 times of the students. However, there is no rule on how many papers these professors are expected to assess. Most of the professors are found to assess around 30 papers daily.
Mumbai University also changed the remuneration pattern for professors. For graduate exams, professors are paid Rs 16 for a 100- 80 marks paper and Rs 8 for 40-60 marks paper. The amount for assessing post graduate course papers runs into Rs 20 for 100-80 marks paper and Rs 10 for 40-60 marks paper.
Speaking with this correspondent, the professors were candid in admitting that it was tough for them to travel to Vidyanagari campus in Kalina (Santacruz) to assess papers as many colleges do not have cap centres for assessment. “It is tough to travel after finishing work in college,” stated a professor. Also, most colleges in Mumbai have minimal full-time professors in their departments, which are finding it tough to convince their visiting faculty to travel to Kalina to assess exam papers. The situation is worst in Konkan region where the cap centres are in the rural areas with poor internet connection.
“As of now, our priority is to announce the results soon. Once that it done, we will discuss all issues,” said Dr Arjun Ghatule, director, board of examination and evaluation.
