TIRUNELVELI, June 2: In an attempt to reform the examination system, the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University has decided to provide photocopies of corrected answer-sheets to students if they so desired.

University Vice-Chancellor V Vasanthi Devi told newspersons here yesterday that the Syndicate, which met on Saturday, had unanimously decided to introduce this system from the current academic year in under-graduate courses. Only students who appear for the first time can avail of this facility, which is introduced from third semester onwards. It was not being introduced for the first two semesters now, owing to the mammoth workload it would generate, she said.

Within 10 days of the university publishing the results, a student should apply for the photocopies of answer-sheets, which would be dispatched to him within 15 days of receipt of the application. If the student still wants his paper to be re-evaluated, he should apply for it within another 10 days. Then the paper would be twice evaluated and the average of the nearest two marks will be awarded to the student. Examination reforms were being given utmost importance by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in its Ninth Plan schedule, said Vasanthi Devi. Though other universities had feared teachers' non-cooperation in introducing such examination reforms, the MS University could take a lead in this regard owing to the whole-hearted cooperation extended by members of the faculty, she said. MS University is the first in India to introduce such reforms, she said.

She said the university's aim was to introduce a certain level of transparency and increase the accountability of teachers.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.