UAF exam dept throws caution to the wind

Faisalabad: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF)
controller of examination office has adopted a novel way of dispatching question papers to examination centres in remote areas by handing over the papers to the superintendents instead of putting them in bank lockers.

The issue surfaced when the Chief Minister's Inspection Team, led by Salahuddin Niazi, had visited the university on Monday last to probe the out-of-course question papers' controversy.

Scores of B.Com students of private colleges affiliated with the university raised the issue when they found their question paper of "Business Stat and Math" out of course. The students tore the answer-sheets and the question papers and protested against the university administration.

The students alleged that the examiner had set out-of-course question papers of "Business Stat and Math" and "Business Taxation" held on Saturday and Monday.

The inspection team held talks with UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad, asking him about the issue and frustration of nearly 160 students. Sources said that the team members had asked Controller of Examination Dr Tanvir Malik how they ensured security of question papers. They quoted the official as saying that the university had been following a tradition of handing over the question papers to the superintendents prior to the examination. He said the university did not put the papers in any public bank.

The controller had no answer, they said, when a member of the team questioned why National Bank of Pakistan lockers were not being used to keep question papers. Asked how the university would handle the situation if any question paper was snatched or any corrupt official sold papers, the sources quoted the controller as saying that "no such incident has taken place in the past".

The team also learnt that no special training was being imparted to the invigilators being deputed by the university and most of them had been conducting examinations depending upon the experience of their seniors. A few of the invigilators also performed their duties at the Laboratory High School centres without proper training.

Sources said the inquiry committee also held the university administration responsible for not making arrangements for proper security, a lack of imposition of section 144 and failure of the examiner to stop chaos erupted at the examination hall set up at the Laboratory High School. The team also blamed the students for disrupting the papers.

They said the VC had given 10 days to a three-member committee he constituted to submit a report, but withdrew his order soon afterwards. The CM's inspection team directed the VC to wind up the issue within 24 hours in view of the nature of the case. The administration closed the chapter by informing the students that the papers in question had been cancelled.

Sources said the committee also quizzed the security head who admitted having failed to control the mob (students) despite best efforts.

The spokesman for the university said the administration had taken all measures suggested by the inspection team and now the students were taking their examination peacefully. He said section 144 had been imposed by the district administration and the university also had improved security even inside the examination hall.