It seems after three years of following the semester system under the choice-based credit system, varsities seem to have realised the dark side of it.
After Bhavnagar University chose to return to the old pattern of annual examination by doing away with the semester system from the current academic year, Gujarat University (GU), too, has decided to modify the exam pattern. At a meeting on Tuesday, the GU decided to split the examinations into two parts.
This means, against the earlier system of conducting exams every six months for students of all six semesters, the GU will conduct exams for three semesters every six months.
For example, students of semesters first to six have to appear in the exam twice a year in November and April.
“From this semester, students of first, third and fifth semesters will have to appear in the examination in November and those of second, fourth and sixth semesters in April,” explained Mukul Shah, pro-vice chancellor of GU.
Describing the decision as historic, Shah said it would not bring any change for the students, who would have to appear in the exam every six months. However, the new pattern is expected to give respite to officials and faculties that otherwise end up spending a significant amount of time in conducting exams, evaluating answer papers and announcing results.
“According to one estimate, the varsity ends up spending near by 60 days in one semester on planning, conducting exam, announcing results and conducting re-exams. This means, days meant for academic sessions were also wasted in conducting exams. To change this system and help students get more academic sessions,
GU has decided to bring about a change in the semester examination. With the new system, varsity officials are expected to spend 22 days only (against 60 days earlier) on exam-related work,” said the pro-VC.
In another significant and student friendly decision, GU officials have decided to allow students to continue studying even if he does not clear one semester. Earlier, if a first-year student did not pass, he was not allowed to study further.
“Now, students failing the first semester will be allowed to study in the second semester on the condition that he clears the backlog and pass all previous exams before he gets a degree in the sixth semester,” said Shah.
