Fewer first classes in Part II CU results

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 23, 2007
The Part II results of Calcutta University under the 2+1 system are out. Compared to last year, this year’s results have been mediocre with the percentage of first classes coming down drastically.
Compared to the previous year, the number of first classes in B Com has been reduced by 1,019, while it has decreased by 478 in the case of B Sc results. In the arts departments also, the number of students securing a first class in English, Bengali, Urdu, Sanskrit, philosophy, political science and geography has come down drastically.
“While the number of first classes in B Com has gone down by almost 10 per cent, it has been slashed by 5 per cent in B Sc. We are very concerned about it and in the next Under Graduate Council meeting, we would try to ascertain the reason behind the debacle and devise solutions,” said Suranjan Das, pro vice-chancellor (academic) of the university.
Talking about the particularly poor results in the B Com exams, Das said, “We have updated the syllabus and maths and computer science have been integrated into the course. But we have received complaints that many colleges have installed the computers without loading the requisite software. This might have resulted in a poor showing by students.”
Among the B Sc courses, chemistry is the worst hit, with first classes reduced by 154. The figure is not that bad among maths, physics, microbiology and statistics students. “Many good students left the course midway and joined medical, engineering and other professional courses. The ones who remained have not studied seriously, preparing for various entrance exams,” the pro VC said.
Das has primarily blamed private tuitions and question suggestions as a main reason behind the university churning out mediocre graduates. “After implementing the new syllabus we had urged students to go through the texts thoroughly. But many did not follow the model question papers and resorted to suggestions, resulting in poor marks.”
Though the number of first classes has gone down, better colleges have maintained their standard to a large extent. This has compelled the university to probe whether all institutions have proper infrastructure and teachers.
Among colleges Presidency College has the maximum number of first classes — 180 accounting for 41.96 per cent of total students — giving the exam from the college. St Xavier’s College accounted for 118 in BA and B Sc and 366 more from its B Com department, with 31 per cent of total students securing a first class. However, the figure is lower than last year in both institutions.
However many have questioned the varsity’s marking pattern. Two maths honours students from Presidency College secured admission at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore but failed to get 60 per cent in graduation, the minimum eligibility for admission in IISc. “Our students are losing out nationally and internationally and the university should review its exam system,” said a professor of the college.
The university is however standing by its marking pattern and hopes results will be better next year if students do not rely on suggestions.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com