Handwritten papers as per old pattern, students confused

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 29

Handwritten question papers, typing errors, markings with black pen — this is how students of Punjabi University-affiliated colleges have been receiving question papers online.

They say question papers are based on the old pattern, creating confusion.

Because of Covid, the university had issued new guidelines for online examinations. As per the new rules, the exam duration is two hours, but question paper mentions it as three.

The new guidelines also provide for attempting only 50 per cent of questions. But the question paper, as per the old pattern, has been divided into three sections with instructions to attempt three to four questions in each section.

Sources say the handwritten question papers reiterate the fact that the financial condition of the university is bad.

The university had collected around Rs 2,000 as examination fee from each student. More than 2 lakh college students of 17 courses are appearing for exams these days.

Dr Jasvirinder Singh Khattar, professor in-charge (Examinations), Punjabi University, said: “The examination fee varies from class to class. The fee is for the complete process, including paper setting and checking. Some papers seem to have been framed before the new guidelines were issued.”

He added said the examination department had streamlined the process and all papers were being typed and framed as per the new pattern.