A series of meetings slated for the last week of October will see the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) discussing major reforms in exams and curriculum in universities apart from the question of launching single window counseling for PG arts and science courses in the State.
At the meeting of the Controller of Examinations (CoE) and Directors of Curriculum Development Cells, scheduled for October 29, the council is set to debate on long-awaited major structural reforms as far exams are concerned. A letter written by Vice Chairperson Cynthia Pandian to various CoEs, available with Express, revealed that the council is mulling introduction of minimum pass marks in both practical and theory sections in exams. “To date, many universities have only combined minimum pass marks. The students often focus on one part and neglect the other,” said a senior academic.
The council will also explore making qualitative changes in examination pattern. The 40 per cent objective mark questions in a subject paper is expected to be divided into 30 per cent subject content and 10 per cent for logical reasoning. The other 60 per cent would be allocated for detailed answers. It would also be explored whether practicals could be introduced for languages such as English with 25 per cent of the total marks allocated for this section.Another major agenda would be exploring the introduction of single-window counselling system for PG courses within each university. This move is aimed at doing away with allegations that individual colleges function in a highly arbitrary manner during admissions.
“We welcome this debate wholeheartedly. We also stress that if the system is brought in, it should be implemented for UG as well,” said C Pichandy, general secretary of the Association of University Teachers. This apart, the meeting is set to review the now prevailing Choice Based Credit System in many universities and debate on the introduction of ‘Transfer of Credits System’, where a student shifting from one university to another could take with him credits already earned. “This would bring in greater consistency across universities if implemented with standardised core curriculum reforms,” opined Pichandy. Also, issues such as integrating SET curriculum with degree courses and setting up of a combined Board of Studies to set norms and syllabus for SET exam would be discussed. Awarding a bachelor degree at the end of three years in a five-year integrated course would also be deliberated upon.