‘Anna varsity re-exam will set a wrong precedent’

Eminent educational and former Member of the Union Public Service Commission E. Balagurusamy has written to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, saying that conducting a re-examination for B.E./B.Tech college students by Anna University would set a wrong precedent.

While expressing happiness that K. Ponmudi, an “experienced academic administrator”, was appointed Minister for Higher Education, he identified that the Minister’s resolution to order a re-examination was not well- based.

“There were no irregularities in the conduct of proctored online exam by Anna University. The exam was designed, developed and administered by a team of online assessment experts using relevant AI-based proctoring software as per international standards. The Minister’s statement of irregularities would grossly undermine the reputation of an internationally acclaimed university,” mentioned Prof. Balagurusamy, a former Vice-Chancellor of Anna University.

The solely difficulty, he mentioned, was a delay in processing of “malpractice cases” as over 50% of the candidates have been concerned. This delay can’t be termed as “irregular”.

“Scheduling a re-exam based on the complaints from ‘failed’ students and changing the proctored online exam to an unsupervised one will set a wrong precedent,” he contended.

According to Prof. Balagurusamy, the “so called online exams” carried out by different universities didn’t affirm to the definition and requirements of on-line examination. It was unlucky that a “reputed technical university” was being compelled to comply with this “unscientific and absurd online method”.

Justifying the proctored on-line examination carried out by Anna University, he mentioned that it helped forestall malpractices as an AI software program may report the id of scholars and flag any irregular bodily actions, facial expressions or use of digital units.

“In the re-exam proposed by the Minister, students will download the question paper at their homes, write answers and then dispatch answer scripts by post… Since it is an unsupervised exam with no control on time, students are free to copy… How can we call this an exam? At best, it can be called an online ‘Home Assignment’,” he mentioned.

Such exams will decrease the educational requirements and have an effect on the profession prospects of excellent and shiny college students, he cautioned.

Besides, as a college is an autonomous establishment, the Education Minister can not order a re-exam on his personal.

Citing hostile remarks handed by the Madras High Court, he urged the Chief Minister to exchange the Secretary for the Higher Education Department.