Results will be late as MU’S digital project stumbles

The University of Mumbai (MU) will have to wait a little longer to start assessing papers digitally as it has not attracted enough companies to bid for its on-screen assessment project.

The university has extended the tendering period by five more days to attract more bidders.

This may delay results as the university has halted off-screen evaluation.

As the third tender floated by the varsity closed on Friday, only two companies had come forward, said an MU official. The rules for e-tendering require at least three companies competing for a project.

With digital assessment, the university aims to prevent cheating. It involves scanning answer booklets on computers, completely doing away with pen and paper. Currently, the digital method is used only for the engineering section.

The MU official said the varsity is having a hard time finding a service provider for the ambitious project owing to the stringent criteria for potential bidders.

“It’s a very large project. Not many companies can fulfil the tender conditions,” he said.

The service provider is expected to install infrastructure to scan and assess around 20 lakh answer sheets. So far, the varsity has twice relaxed the tender conditions to attract more companies.

However, the delay in appointing a service provider will not affect training programme for around 9,500 teachers in more than 750 affiliated colleges. The programme will start on Monday.

However, MU is insistent about starting digital assessment from the current semester. “There’s nothing wrong in making haste on digital assessment as the project will reap benefits in the long run. The university results are delayed every semester. They might be further delayed by a couple of months,” said a member of MU’S academic council.