The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Norms for I PU exam revised

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Sunday, Jul 20, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Norms for I PU exam revised

Deepa Kurup

Common timetable to be set

Drop in II PUC pass percentage prompted the action
Question papers
to be set at the
State level

BANGALORE: Starting from this academic year, all question papers for the first Pre-University Course examinations will be set at the State level.

A common timetable is on the anvil with examination scheduled to begin in the last week of February across the State. Evaluation will be conducted at the district or taluk levels or by forming clusters of 10 unaided and aided colleges.

This measure, being adopted by the Pre University Education Department, is to strengthen the system from the bottom. The plummeting pass percentage in the Second Pre University examinations made the department issue a fresh set of guidelines for the first PU course.

In the past, question papers were set and evaluation was conducted at the respective colleges. This meant that colleges could chose the pattern, the timetable and even determine standards. A committee studied various question papers and results of the past two years and found a great disparity in standards and timetables, and too many factual mistakes in the question papers.

The study found that the questions did not cover the entire syllabus nor did they adhere to the prescribed blueprint. “It is an urgent need and the department feels that the root cause for decreasing trends in the II PUC pass percentage is laxity shown by students and teachers in the first year. They fail to see that this forms the foundation for the second year,” PU Commissioner S.G. Hegde told The Hindu.

The study was commissioned because of the abysmally low pass percentage in the Second PUC result this year (41.31 per cent), the lowest in eight years.

Mr. Hegde said the pass percentages for first year had been 92 to 95 per cent, which was reduced by half in the second year. Several reforms, pertaining to both academic and examinations, had been proposed besides laying stress on bridge courses and remedial teaching.

“There is a huge disparity between colleges in different districts. A centralised solution is the only way to tackle this problem,” Mr. Hegde said.

The guidelines issued to all colleges in the State call for enforcement of rules formulated last year. Attendance shortage below 75 per cent could have been condoned by principals earlier, but not henceforth. Those unable to attend classes must be encouraged to take up correspondence courses. Principals have been directed to draw revised plans or “programme of work” and ensure that the adequate number of teaching hours allotted to each subject are fulfilled.

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