THE UNIVERSITY of Mumbai (MU) has got a green signal from the state government to continue with the controversial onscreen assessment process. It is noteworthy here that the same scheme had led to an unprecedented delay in the declaration of results in the summer semesters. While the appointed agency, Merittrac, will conduct the assessment process for the upcoming semester exams, fresh tenders will be floated next year to appoint an agency again.
What State Govt Says
State Education Minister Vinod Tawde has apparently declared that onscreen assessment will continue for most subjects. And also that answersheets of any subject which has more than 1,000 students appearing for it, will be corrected onscreen. Tawde reportedly held a meeting with varsity officials to take stock of the assessment system.
The decision to continue with the controversy-ridden onscreen assessment comes two days after Governor and Chancellor Ch Vidyasagar Rao removed Sanjay Deshmukh from the post of the vice-chancellor of the university, citing the flawed implementation of the onscreen assessment.
In the past the university was directed so that the results of the winter examination should be preferably declared within 30 days and in any case, within 45 days as mandated by the Public Universities Act.
What Continues…
The onscreen assessment process will now continue for all major courses, including B Com. Only in case of courses where the number of students are few or a few subjects in Architecture and Engineering where answers are in graphs or drawing sheets, the evaluation will be done offline, said a senior official of the higher and technical education department.
Former V-C Bhalchandra Mungekar has, however, demanded that the university repeal its decision to conduct onscreen assessment for the October-November examinations. Mungekar added that if his demands are not met, he will launch an agitation against the university.
