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Latest News |
| 19th
Aug 2010 / Times of India / Mumbai Edition |
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College exams may be graded from this year
Mumbai: If the state government has its say, the percentage
system will be replaced by the grading method for all
professional and traditional courses from this academic
year in Maharashtra.
The system of disclosing the percentage on the results
should be changed. Instead of percentage, the grading
method should be adopted, said Rajesh Tope, minister for
higher and technical education. In the meeting with the
joint board of vice-chancellors, necessary instructions
have been given and accordingly they have been asked to
make necessary changes for implementation of the new system,
Tope said. We are expecting the system to be in practice
from the current academic year.
If implemented, examinations in traditional streams such
as arts, commerce and science, and professional courses
such as MBBS, engineering, MBA, MCA, law, architecture
and so on, will be graded unlike the practice of awarding
classes such as first, second and third.
We feel that the grading system will reduce pressure on
students, the minister said in reply to a query on what
was needed to change the current system.
Students who secure more than 75% marks in all the papers
will get A grade; those who secure more than 60% will
get B grade; and so on, said a senior official while explaining
the implementation of the grading system.
Other than introducing changes in the earlier results
pattern, the department has proposed to introduce a credit-based
system as a part of the continuous assessment process
in higher education. The assessment of students will be
done at regular intervals and accordingly, marks will
be added in the final results, he said.
When asked whether the government needs to amend the law
or bring an ordinance for making the changes, the minister
said, there is no need for a ordinance or a bill. But,
few universities will certainly need to amend their rules
and regulations.
In order to make professional courses affordable for the
middle- and lower-middle classes, those students who have
availed of an educational loan from a nationalized bank
will have to repay just the principal amount while the
interest will be paid by the government. Financial assistance
under the scheme will be given till the student finds
a job or for two years after the course is complete, whichever
is the earlier, said Abhay Wagh, deputy secretary, higher
and technical education department. The only criterion
for availing of it is that the students annual family
income should not exceed Rs 4.5 lakh.
Panel to review university rules
The rules laid down for universities in the state are
a decade-old and need some changes, suggested Rajesh Tope,
minister for higher and technical education, Maharashtra.
"A committee is formed to review all rules and recommend
changes. Once recommendations are received, the change
in rules will be made at one go rather in bits and pieces,
"said Tope.
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