The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Divided over PU internal marks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Divided over PU internal marks

Deepa Kurup

Internal assessment system was started in 2004
Principals say the system is often misused

BANGALORE: While most pre-university colleges welcomed the move to scrap the internal marks system for non-science subjects, academics say that the system’s focus on project-based study was a good thing to follow.

The Department of Pre-University Education on Saturday published model questions relating to topics that were covered by the internal assessment projects. The department had announced at the beginning of this academic year that it would scrap the internal marks system in all non-science subjects which do not involve practical examination.

The internal assessment system was started as an experiment in 2004. Upon several complaints alleging partiality and expressing inability to manage the programme, a government panel conducted a study in schools and colleges in the State.

“Statistics proved that this system was not only a burden, especially in government schools which do not have adequate teaching staff, but was also being misused arbitrarily. In several instances students who failed in the examination scored excellent marks in internals and vice-versa,” said Hegde S.G., Director of Pre-University Education. While most college principals agree with this move, academics have expressed disagreement. “I think 10 marks are not adequate; it is neither here nor there. In principle, this was a good thing because it fosters a continuous system of evaluation of individuals,” said Govinda Rao K., a former academic.

“Projects system is beneficial. It helps provide exposure to the 17-year-olds who get to explore and expand their understanding of the subjects,” he added.

College principals found this system a burden. The principals said that it was often being misused.

“We had to give them individual projects and sometimes students would not cooperate. Some colleges had to deal with complaints of partiality. We may be able to earmark companies to visit and collect data for them in the cities but it is difficult in the mofussil areas,” said Srinivas M.R., principal of Seshadripuram PU College.

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