In a significant administrative lapse, more than 200 teachers affiliated with Shri Govind Guru University (SGGU) in Godhra have returned approximately 11,000 examination answer sheets without evaluating them. This incident has forced the university to seek urgent explanations and arrange for alternative examiners to complete the crucial assessment process.
Timeline of the Evaluation Failure
The controversy stems from the fifth-semester examinations for various undergraduate courses, which the university conducted in November last year. According to officials, the answer sheets were dispatched to the appointed examiners around 45 days ago, following the conclusion of the tests. However, in a surprising turn of events, the university received the bulk of these sheets back 20 to 25 days ago, completely unevaluated.
Nature of the Unevaluated Papers
The unevaluated answer sheets pertain specifically to minor subjects, each carrying two credits. These include Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC) and Value-Added Courses (VAC). University sources explained that SGGU follows a distinct evaluation model: while major subjects are assessed centrally on the university campus, answer booklets for SEC and VAC are sent to teachers at their respective locations. These minor papers are typically of one-hour duration and hold fewer credits compared to core subjects.
University's Response and Damage Control
Addressing the issue, SGGU Vice-Chancellor Hari Katariya stated that upon realizing the sheets were unchecked, the administration promptly identified other teachers to take over the evaluation. "Only a small portion of the assessment remains pending," Katariya assured. He further revealed that results for 71 out of the 123 affected courses have already been declared, indicating a swift recovery operation.
The matter was taken seriously in discussions with college principals, where it was reiterated that evaluating answer sheets is a fundamental part of teachers' official duties. Consequently, the university has decided to formally seek written explanations from the approximately 200 teachers involved in returning the answer books without performing their assessment responsibility.
Systemic Implications and Next Steps
This incident highlights a potential flaw in the decentralized evaluation system for minor papers. The university's move to appoint alternative examiners prevented a complete delay in result declarations, but it raises questions about accountability and process adherence. The explanations sought from the teachers will likely determine if further administrative or disciplinary action is warranted to prevent a recurrence of such an event, which directly impacts student academic timelines.
