BDU probe on into single digit marks for many

Trichy: Many students of government arts and science colleges affiliated to Bharathidasan University in Trichy were stunned when they saw the results of the term semester exams held in November 2023: Those who got above 70% mark in most subjects scored in single digit or slightly higher in one of the subjects. Vice-chancellor M Selvam told TOI that an inquiry was on to find out where and what went wrong. A second year Political Administration student of Government Arts College in Thuvakudi said she has been given only 10 marks out of 75 in Financial Administration. “I got 74% in the first semester, 75.6 in the second semester and I am the topper in my class. Financial Administration is a major paper and I did very well in the examination. I don’t know on what basis they have given this mark,” she said. She fears that the low mark will affect the Rs 13,000 annual scholarship she receives from the Union government. Tamil Nadu Government Collegiate Teachers Association (TGCTA) has urged the government to order an inquiry into the irresponsible attitude of the university which has caused a lot of trauma and stress to students. The Students Federation of India’s branch secretary K Gowtham, also a student of Government Arts College, Thuvakudi, said that a total of 108 students were given marks in single digit in any one of their subjects from the college. “We protested demanding a proper probe and action against the errant officials,” he said. A second year Political Science student of the same college who got 3 marks said the university authorities were evasive when they approached them.TGCTA state president P David Livingstone said when the affected students approached the university, the controller of examination (in-charge) asked them to pay the fee for arrear examinations to the utter shock of the students. “The controller also told the students that by paying Rs 900, they can obtain the transparency of their answer scripts. The students are anguished that for no fault of theirs they are being victimized,” he said.A faculty member of an aided college said this was very likely a manual error. “Before the mark sheets go to print, mark statements should be verified and checked by two designated staff. Then the controller of examination signs,” he said indicating lapses at various levels. Vice-chancellor M Selvam said it has been decided to conduct a fresh exam for the particular subject in which the students got single digit marks without collecting any examination fee.