Agitated over their recent results, Delhi University students today staged a protest against the relative grading system in undergraduate courses under the newly implemented Choice Based Credit Scheme (CBCS).
According to students, the new marking system does not take individual performances into account and grades are awarded on the basis of the average score of the class.
"When we are awarded absolute marks (in terms of percentage), we are aware of our performance. But when we are awarded grades that too relatively, there is no way a student can ascertain his performance," said Shreyasi Batra of Jesus and Mary College.
After the first semester results were out, it was found that under the relative grading system introduced in undergraduate courses, students will now have to score more than 100 per cent marks to get the top O (outstanding) grade in some subjects.
The examiners will now have to convert absolute marks into letter grades and grade points through a UGC-devised formula.
The Executive Council members of the varsity have also raised objections, saying the relative grading system was neither placed before the statutory bodies nor was it notified to the colleges before the results were declared.
A group of students, along with the members of Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA), today staged a demonstration in North Campus demanding re-evaluation of the current results and review of the new grading system.
The students also submitted a memorandum of demands in this regard to Dean of Students Welfare Gurpreet Tuteja who was not available for his comments on the issue.
The CBCS, which was mandated by UGC last year to be implemented by all varsities, was adopted by Delhi University after a series of confrontations with a section of teachers who argued the system was flawed and the students will end up being used as guinea pigs for the experiment.
