Problems and Challenges of Controller of Examination in the University

In the present scenario when there is trend of growth in the higher education, which has increased the number of students enrolled in higher education. Universities still have a very limited number of staff members hence it is becoming difficult for managing the Examination System effectively. Present Paper deals with various problems and challenges faced by the Controller of Examination in the university.

1.     Introduction: As per provisions of University Act, Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations, the Registrar is responsible for Administrative, Academic and Financial Matters of the University. He is also custodian of University properties and valuables. The Heads of University Teaching Department are similarly responsible for the entire working of the University Teaching Departments. The Registrar of the University can make interference where found necessary in the financial matter of the Teaching Departments. In some Universities an additional Registrar designated as Controller of Examination is appointed to reduce the work load of Registrar regarding conduct of Examinations in affiliated colleges and University Teaching Departments.

The work of the University is divided in various sections namely Administration, Academic, Development, Finance, Examination, Confidential, Stores, Library, Sports, St/Sc cell, etc. These sections work under the direct control of the Deputy Registrars, Assistance Registrars, Librarian, Sports Officers with the help of class III and IV staff.
In the University where no additional Registrar Examination or Controller of Examination is appointed, the work of conduction of examination in the affiliated colleges and Teaching Department is done by the Senior Deputy Registrar who acts as Controller of Examinations. He prepares and publish programs for conduct of examinations of the courses run in the affiliated colleges as well as in the University Teaching Department specifying the date of each examinations and last dates by which examinations form are to be filled up and examination fees to be deposited in the University. The Controller of Examinations supply answer sheets to the colleges and Teaching Departments for conduction of Examinations and Confidential Sealed envelops of question papers at least a week before commencement of examinations.

2. Problems and Challenges: The Controller of Examinations faces the following problems and difficulties in the whole process of conduction of Examinations and declaration of results.
i.    Setting and Printing of question papers : The name of teachers having minimum three years teaching experience and whose appointments are made under college code 28 are included in the panel of paper setters. But there is lack of such teachers.



 Controller of Examination, Pioneer Institute of Professional Studies, Indore
 Director (MCA), Pioneer Institute of Professional Studies, Indore
To solve this problems, the University gets this work done by the teachers of other University and Colleges under its jurisdiction so that the work of getting question papers and moderation can be expedited and sealed envelops be sent to press for printing. In such a way the University can send question papers in advance to the colleges for Examinations. Although the Autonomous Colleges get this work done at college level.
ii.    Untrained and Un-Experienced Staff in the University: In the University class III employees posts are filled up by direct recruitment and through promotions from the lower cadre. These employees are un-experienced and un trained. Therefore, all the officers including Controller of Examination gets day to day difficulties in taking work form them and solving student’s problems. The State University Officers Services were established in the year 1984 and made transferable between University to University. This has given better chances of promotion to the University employees but affected working of the University in this sense that the Officers coming from other Universities to get themselves acquainted with the working and background of the present University.
iii.    Central Evaluation of Answer-sheets: The University has started Central valuation system since back. Some teachers are not willing to go to the centre for valuation work because of the fact that they do not get remuneration in time. Because of the lack of faculty resources the University can not declare results in time and therefore, it affects the start of new session.
iv.    Old Rates of Remuneration: The rates of Remuneration payable to teachers are very old and these should be revised to get the availability of teachers in the University examination work. Because of old rates of remuneration they are not interested in the checking of answer book and other examination work of the university. This affects of declaration of results in time.
v.    Undue Intervention of Students: The Students leaders create intolerable   pressure in the examination working of the university and mount pressure on Controller of Examination for doing un legal work.
vi.    Undue Pressure of local leaders: The local leaders come to the University for getting their legal and un legal work done quickly and harass the officers and other staff of the University. These are the day to day problems which the Controller of Examination face daily.
vii   Internal Assessments: The Colleges do not send marks of internal assessment to the examination section of the University in the prescribed time and, therefore, it affects declaration of results and starts of new semesters in time in the colleges.
viii.    Online work of University: The University has decided few months back to get all work of University done on online system including filling of Examinations forms from the students. For this work proper training was required to be given to the staff of University as well as of colleges.
ix.     Revaluation work: After declaration of University results of examinations the students apply for revaluation of their answer sheets but they do not get its result before commencement of next examination and, therefore, this should be expedited.
x.    Challenge of Problem of Leakage of Question Papers : To stop leakage of question papers, the University has decided to collect back the sealed envelops of question papers already sent to the examination centre half n hour before starting of examinations and replace other envelops of question paper in place there of. In the sensitive subjects the University gets printed three papers and uses any one of them for the examinations. This curtails leakage of question papers. 

3. Conclusion: In the light of the above, the job of controller of examination is very dynamic and challenging. Most of the times, there is a tremendous pressure and stress upon him. There has to be some decentralization of work at various levels. Also, university should revise the honorarium in the light of the inflation. As well there has to be arrangement that the payment is on timely basis or instantaneous. The faculty members should take the interest in paper setting and evaluation work as it is the moral responsibility of teachers irrespective of anything