Exam results: PU mulls integrated voice response system

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">CHANDIGARH: Having to invariably face long queues and rude officials while inquiring about one''s examination results at the Panjab University may be a thing of the past, if the latest proposal moved by the controller of examinations to install an integrated voice response system (IVRS) gets the university''s nod.<br /><br />In the absence of a foolproof completely computerised system of result declaration in the university, the IVRS could be the answer to providing a 24-hour open, automated system of accessing the results by candidates through a simple phone call.<br /><br />While it could save the university the manual effort of creating special enquiry counters for informing the candidates of their results, the students can also avoid facing the often unfriendly staff at the special counters.<br /><br />The proposal does not also involve allocation of substantial finances."The cost should not be much. After all, under IVRS a few telephone lines would be required so that the candidates can get reply to their queries by dialing any of the numbers. Also if we think long term, such a system has to be made available to students," says the controller of examinations Dr Sodhi Ram.<br /><br />Inspired by the machine fed voice operating systems available on various landline services, IVRS would be designed to give codes to candidates for accessing the system.<br /><br />IVRS also scores over the availability of result on the PU''s official website as the accessibility of the Internet is still limited compared to the telephone.<br /><br />Sodhi Ram says the system would also be an improvement over the result gazette as complete information on pre and post examination would be obtained. "For instance in case of a candidate, whose result is held up because of late fee, the printed gazette copy would only mention that his case is RL (result late). After that the candidate has to find out from university officials how much more money he has to pay to clear his dues. But feeding all this information about reasons for his result being late is possible under IVRS," adds the CoE.<br /><br />While the idea has to go through the mandatory stamp of approval of the university syndicate and senate, the fundamental question remains. "The machine will not be able to tell the results on its own. The employees have to compile the results and feed it into the system before it is disseminated. So the university has to pay equal attention to the first step of result compilation. Otherwise, it would cause more inconvenience to students," observed a university official.<br /><br /><formid=526372></formid=526372></div> </div>