Higher pass mark for UG courses raises apprehension

Updated on: Monday, April 05, 2010

The percentage of marks required to pass semester examinations for the students of undergraduate courses has been raised from the existing 35 per cent to 40 per cent by the Madurai Kamaraj University.

This will come into effect from the coming academic year 2010-11 and it has been done as per the recommendation of the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education. The decision of MKU, which was taken at the university's Academic Council meeting held on March 18, has raised a few points for debate.

Colleges coming under the jurisdiction of MKU will have to implement the decision for undergraduate courses conducted under the Choice-Based Credit System.

Rural students

While agreeing that the quality of higher education has to be improved, some principals in Madurai have expressed apprehension whether the increase in minimum pass marks will affect the rural students in colleges, many of whom are first generation learners.

“The learning ability of students particularly in rural places must be taken into account. A large number of students come from backward areas and are the first generation to enter higher education,” says G. Pushparaj, principal, Arul Anandar College at Karumathur, near Madurai.

When the issue was raised by a member at the Academic Council meeting, MKU vice-chancellor R. Karpaga Kumaravel observed that the decision to increase the percentage of marks from 35 to 40 per cent was only to give some value to the degree.

“We normally give grace marks during paper valuation to make the students pass in examination. Increasing the marks required for a pass was done only in the interest of students. There are already other universities which had increased the minimum pass marks,” the vice-chancellor said.

Employability

V. Alagappan, Registrar in-charge, MKU, too opined that certain standard is essential in higher education and not just the number of students passing out each year.

“The employability of students after they complete a UG course is critical and it cannot be ignored. Every degree must have some value and it comes only if universities/colleges try to produce employable students,” Dr. Alagappan said.

According to Dr. Pushparaj, the question of uniformity need not be extended to universities and colleges in rural areas.

“A wider consultation with all stakeholders including groups of parents and teachers is essential. The administrators of higher education must give a thought to it,” he said.

He pointed out that the University Grants Commission is on the one hand making attempts to increase the accessibility to higher education and hence “quality enhancement cannot be done just by increasing the pass marks.”

Exam system

T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, principal, American College, said the whole examination system at the undergraduate level calls for a change. “Our examinations do not really reflect the true learning of a student and whether it is 35 or 40 marks, it is not a benchmark for judging quality,” he said.

Dr. Jaikumar said the UG semester examinations should not be memory-based and it must be a thorough evaluation. “Experiential writing must be the real testing criteria. The students' understanding of a subject must be evaluated,” he suggested.

Higher pass mark for UG courses raises apprehension

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