Controversy erupts over decision to hold repeat exams before declaration of results
The decision of the Directorate of Technical Education to conduct repeat examinations before officially releasing the results of the second, fourth and sixth semester diploma exams has triggered a row, with teachers terming it as an attempt to help a few students.
Teachers from polytechnic colleges across the State have raised serious concerns over the move, calling it 'unprecedented.' They asked why the department was conducting supplementary exams even before announcing the results of regular exams, suggesting a possible manipulation to favour certain students.
Dr. Shino P. Jose, a teacher in the higher education sector, said such a move was unheard of. 'This is the first time that an exam board is re-conducting exams for failed students without declaring who has failed. It clearly indicates an effort to protect their own people,' he added.
The circular issued by the office of the Joint Controller of Examinations on June 2 has intensified suspicions, with critics saying that the move deviated from standard examination protocols and compromised the transparency of the evaluation process.
'Rather than officially announcing the results, identifying those who failed, and then scheduling a supplementary exam, the department appears to be identifying them unofficially and giving them a second chance before the public is even informed of the results,' Dr. Shino said. He urged the Controller of Examinations to provide a transparent explanation for the circular and safeguard academic integrity.
Meanwhile, the silence of other teachers within the Directorate on the issue has added to the scepticism. Stakeholders are demanding accountability and transparency to uphold the credibility of the State's technical education system. However, Joint Controller of Technical Examinations V.V. Ray defended the decision, stating it was implemented following a government order.
'Based on the directorate's recommendation, the government permitted repeat exams for students who failed or were absent in the institution-level theory examination under the Revision 21 syllabus in the State's polytechnic colleges, Mr. Ray said.
He added that the institution-level exams, introduced as part of curriculum reforms, aim to empower the institutions and mirror the academic model of autonomous colleges.
'During inspections, it was observed that government colleges followed strict evaluation, while self-financing institutions were more lenient. To ensure fairness, a second chance was given to affected students,' he clarified.
Mr. Ray also said that the question papers were prepared and evaluated by teachers across institutions—whether government, aided, or self-financing—and that marks were later consolidated in the official mark list.
Dr. Shino, however, dismissed the justification, stating that institutional autonomy cannot be equated with the University Grants Commission-recognised autonomous college status. He pointed out that no polytechnic in Kerala qualifies for such autonomy, and only a small number of colleges in the State hold official autonomous status.
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