MU RESULTS DELAY SAGA
Lakhs of students had to spend a sleepless nights this year as the results of Mumbai University (MU) examinations were delayed. Over four lakh students awaited their results of 477 summer semester examinations comprising of around 22 lakh answer scripts for more than three months.
This delay was caused due to the lack of preparation and loopholes in implementation of On-Screen Marking (OSM) system of online assessment process, managed by the agency MeritTrac, which was initiated this year for the first time. Results had errors and needed rechecking which made the students wait for the revaluation process which again stretched for a period of three months.
The results were delayed as the answer scripts were not uploaded correctly, scanned adequately and classified in wrong baskets of courses. Answer scripts of Arts stream were placed in the basket of Commerce and teachers could not assess them. In addition, answer scripts were half scanned and uploaded as the internet speed was slow. Teachers had to wait for hours as answer scripts took a lot of time to upload and appear on the screen.
Students had to wait for months while the results were supposed to be declared within 45 days from date of examination. Rachna Shahane, a student said, “We were waiting every day as there was no news from the university. We used to check the university website every day every minute just to find out if our results were announced.”
Sanjay Deshmukh, ViceChancellor of MU, who was responsible for initiating this process was sacked from his office by the Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of MU, Ch Vidyasagar Rao. The mess was tackled as teachers were asked to spend extra hours and complete assessment in order to declare results.
The online assessment process is managed by the same agency for the winter semester examinations. Both the MU and agency claims to have taken necessary precautions and steps to avoid any kind of delay this time and in the future. (CONTRIBUTORS: NEETA KOLHATKAR, RONALD RODRIGUES AND SWAPNIL MISHRA)
Lakhs of students had to spend sleepless nights this year as results of Mumbai University examinations were delayed. Over four lakh students waited for their results of 477 summer semester examinations comprising of around 22 lakh answer scripts for more than three months