Mass anomalies in TDC CBCS question paper of Assam University, students at receiving end

June 20: Three Years Degree (TDC) Course Even Semester Examination, 2019 under Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) pattern conducted by Assam University, Silchar has started from 19 June. The Even Semester TDC (CBCS) examination started with Honours course. However, on 20 June, 2019, during the morning shift examination of Honours Paper-202, students of English alleged that all questions from one particular unit was from outside their syllabus.

At once, a hue and cry was raised inside the examination hall. On verification, teachers of English department confirmed the claim made by the students. It was later on learnt that on Wednesday, examination of CBCS Honours, Paper No. 202 was going on for all the subjects. However, the major problem was found in English Honours Course No. 202T. It was a Honours Paper on American Literature. The full marks of the paper was 70.

As per Appendix B of TDC CBCS Regulations 2018, there shall be 5 units of equal weightage of each theory paper. As such, the question paper of English Honours-202 (American Literature) also had 5 units. Each unit had a total of 14 marks. However, a major anomaly was found in the entire Unit-V. Like all other units of this question, there were 2 broad questions in page 4 (last page). The students were to answer any one question (out of Q.9.a or 9.b), which carried 10 marks. Further, from the same unit, they were also asked to answer another question (Q.10.a or b), which carried 4 marks.

However, all the questions of Unit-V were outside the syllabus of Honours Paper-202. On assurance of anonymity, an English teacher of a reputed college of Silchar said, “As per the CBCS syllabus of English Honours, in Unit 5, the students were supposed to study Tony Morrison’s ‘Beloved.’ But instead of it, questions were set for full 14 marks from Tony Morrison’s ‘Bluest Eye.’ So it was but natural for the students to react and panic. How can you expect the students to write something which is not in the syllabus? This being a very scoring paper, the students should not be made to suffer for no fault of their own”

Another college teacher who teaches English said, “Tony Morrison’s ‘Bluest Eye’ was there in the old syllabus. However, in the syllabus of CBCS, Tony Morrison’s ‘Beloved.’ was included. How can the question setter make such a major mistake? How did it evade the eyes of the moderators? Was it not the responsibility of the Chairperson/Head Examiner to check before finalising the questions in the moderation board?” Who will owe the responsibility? What action will be taken against the person who has made such a grave mistake?”

The parent of a student of English Honours from G.C. College said, “This is really frustrating. How can the university be so casual? My daughter who studied seriously and wanted to do good result is now deprived of full 14 marks. The university will have to compensate this loss and provide full 14 marks to all students of English Honours in this paper. The Examination Branch of Assam University has got no right to play with the future of my daughter. If the university do not award full marks in this unit, then we may be compelled to knock the doors of the judiciary.”

Another very vital point which came to the forefront was gross violation of TDC CBCS Regulations 2018, while framing the question papers of English Honours. It was specifically mentioned in the said Regulations that Question types/number of questions/marks per question shall be the same for Honours Theory Paper cutting across disciplines and departments. The following are the question types which ought to have been followed by the question setters/moderators of English Honours:

• Short Type Questions (STA): To answer 2 questions out of 3 from each unit. Each question will carry 2 marks. As such, in STA, the total marks will be :2marksx2questions=4 marks per unit. That means, for 5 units, a student will have to answer 4 marks per unit x 5 units=20.marks
• Broad/Essay Type with either or option. 1questionx10 marks=10 per unit. That means, for 5 units, a student will have to answer 10 marks per unit x 5 units=50 marks

However, a glance at the Honours question paper 202T would reveal that in gross ‘violation’ of the CBCS Regulations, the question pattern was changed from what the Academic Council and the Executive Council approved. Instead of assigning 2marksx2questions=4 marks per unit, the question paper contained one question of 4 marks from every unit.

Deviation from the CBCS Regulations can also be found in the question paper of Education 201T which took place on 19 July. Here instead of 2marksx2questions=4 marks per unit, Very Short Type Questions with 1 marks each question was set. A similar kind of complaint was also made by the students as regards Commerce Honours, wherein also the structure was not followed as per CBCS Regulations.

It’s high time that the appropriate authority must give a serious thought to this entire matter and do proper investigation so that the life and career of the students are not jeopardised.