There was a debate on in the staff room. The topic was 'why postgraduate students fail'.
"Students fail because they do not study" one person said.
"Some of the failures are due to that" said another one.
"Some fail because the examiner wants them to fail" someone said bitterly. I had known about that. Some examiners were said to fail students of their presumed or actual rivals.
"In the last exam a few students failed because the examiners said their answers were absolutely wrong" complained one, "while actually the students were right. The statements were made as per latest postgraduate text books."
"Huh?" said the first person.
"Yes. These students read for three months to prepare themselves for their exams. Which examiner studies even for three days prior to conducting the exams?"
I knew that was true.
"The students should show the examiners the references" suggested someone.
"That is a sure way of inviting the wrath of the examiner" retorted the person who had made this claim.
"Is there no solution to this?" someone asked.
"The solution is to record the entire proceedings of the practical examination" I said. "Then there can be a third examiner who can review the proceedings and reassess the student. The student can even go to court against an unfair marking causing him to fail."
The examiners suddenly became quiet.
"Students fail because they do not study" one person said.
"Some of the failures are due to that" said another one.
"Some fail because the examiner wants them to fail" someone said bitterly. I had known about that. Some examiners were said to fail students of their presumed or actual rivals.
"In the last exam a few students failed because the examiners said their answers were absolutely wrong" complained one, "while actually the students were right. The statements were made as per latest postgraduate text books."
"Huh?" said the first person.
"Yes. These students read for three months to prepare themselves for their exams. Which examiner studies even for three days prior to conducting the exams?"
I knew that was true.
"The students should show the examiners the references" suggested someone.
"That is a sure way of inviting the wrath of the examiner" retorted the person who had made this claim.
"Is there no solution to this?" someone asked.
"The solution is to record the entire proceedings of the practical examination" I said. "Then there can be a third examiner who can review the proceedings and reassess the student. The student can even go to court against an unfair marking causing him to fail."
The examiners suddenly became quiet.
