Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Long queues for re-totalling, photocopy applications

By K. Ramachandran

CHENNAI May 19. The Directorate of Government Examinations (DGE) here was today virtually besieged by students seeking applications for re-totalling of marks awarded to them in the March 2003 higher secondary examinations as also by those requiring photocopies of their answer papers.

Right from the morning, long queues were seen in front of counters of a nationalised bank branch within the DPI complex and those selling the applications in the DGE. Some of the students and parents complained of confusion in the queues, with some seeking information and others who came after doing their homework, ready with the demand drafts.

The Directorate has said it will provide from this year photocopies of Zoology and Botany answer-sheets, in addition to the scripts in four subjects — Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology — for which the copies were given even last year.

Although, the applications were being given in the offices of the Chief Educational Officer and District Educational Officer also, the crowds were concentrated in the directorate headquarters in the DPI complex. Applications for re-totalling were also given in the same offices.

Answer keys made the difference

Meanwhile, a debate continues over the general drop in the success rate in this year's higher secondary examinations. Various reasons are being attributed to the fall in the pass percentage from 84 last year to 75.

While many parents and teachers say the World Cup cricket matches held during the peak examination season could have cost the students dear, administrators feel that this claim is too simplistic.

A senior official in the directorate said one major reason could be the DGE evolving a new system to develop the ``correct key answers''. This year, a two-day camp was held for preparing the answer keys ``in a manner more perfect than what was done in previous years''.

Subject experts, who prepared the key answers, were also asked to define the parameters for evaluation and giving marks, so that even a reduction of marks for an incorrect point, concept or answer was uniform. The preparation of the key included ``sample valuation'' of papers picked at random. All this helped the valuers assess the performance based on the keys. Any answer which confirmed to the key was given full mark; and any deviation would mean lower marks in proportion.

Of about 1.25 lakh unsuccessful candidates, about 59,000 have failed in one paper, 27,000 plus in two papers and about 14,000 in three papers.

Circulars would soon be sent to government schools for conducting special coaching classes for candidates seeking to appear in the June re-examination, said the official.

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