Students of maths, science streams protest against CBCS

A large number of students, mainly from the science and mathematics streams, on Wednesday protested against the relative grading system in the newly introduced system of Choice Based Credit System (CBCS).

The students protested the lack of transparency and the relative grading procedures which resulted in their getting unsuitable grades despite scoring high marks. Shreyasi Batra, a first year BSc Maths (Hons.) student said: “Compared to students of arts and humanities, the students of sciences usually score higher. The average marks scored by science students are being treated as the passing marks and they are being graded on that basis. It only ensures getting poor grades in spite of good marks.” She added that the marking criterion in this system was unfair to science students.  “This system is mostly seen in competitive exams where you often set criteria for elimination of students. These are not competitive examinations but university level examinations,” said one of the teachers in the protest. Rajneesh from Venkateshwara College complained of the non-transparency in the procedure of awarding the grades. “We have not been explained of our internal assessment and external assessment marks and just been given grades,” he said, adding that he got poor grades despite scoring high marks.

In the past, student groups like Student Federation of India (SFI) have protested against the CBCS system. The DUTA has also expressed its dissatisfaction with the system and stated that the system was introduced without any notification or discussion with the teachers. When asked if the marking system in CBCS was unfair to the students in the science stream, Dean of Examination Prof Rup Lal refused to comment.