The Hindu : Karnataka News : VTU’s examination system questioned

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Sunday, Jan 06, 2008
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VTU’s examination system questioned

Firoz Rozindar

Leaking of question papers has led to call for more stringent norms

Chitradurga: The alleged leaking of engineering question papers in Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), followed by the postponement of examinations, has given rise to questions over the efficacy of the examination system of VTU.

Following reports of the leaking of papers, the university, on Thursday, rescheduled the exam for another day. But with reports of leaking of another paper on Friday, VTU was compelled to cancel the examination all together.

While VTU maintains that stringent norms are being followed to minimise the risk of leakage, a large number of students feel that the norms are still not adequate to contain this unhealthy practice.

Usual practice

Senior students who are sitting for examinations told The Hindu that in most cases, the paper is leaked from the colleges. A final year student of the electronics branch of a reputed college said that since around 140 colleges come under the umbrella of VTU, a paper can be leaked from any one college. Leaking of the paper from the printing press is also possible. “Teachers who prepare question papers might give hints to their students about probable questions,” he said.

He added that though some miscreants, to make quick money, spread false questions papers, most of the time that does not work as students give payment for question papers only after writing the examination and comparing both question papers. “Students who are regularly involved in such activities can easily determine the fake and genuine question paper,” he said. The cost of question papers can vary from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 20,000, depending on the subject, he said.

Authorities at VTU admit that it is very difficult to pinpoint from which college the paper gets leaked. However, they denied that papers get leaked from the printing press. “It is simply not possible, because the internal norms are so tight that no single paper can be leaked from the press,” said one authority.

College authorities said that the sealed sets of papers they receive from the university are kept under tight security and are opened just before the examination in the presence of university representatives.

Deemed universities

While this is the situation at VTU, the deemed universities like Amrita Institute of Technology, also believes that it is impossible to prevent paper leakage. Yet, with strict norms it could be controlled. “So far, no such instances have been reported in our university, owing to stringent internal norms,” said an authority to The Hindu over phone.

He said unlike VTU, the checks and balances in the deemed university is easier as its does not have several branches.

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