RE-ORGANISATION OF POLYTECHNIC ACADEMIC CALENDAR

RAM DHANASEKAR, SL / HOD i/c - DCE


S.S.M.INSTITUTE OF TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY & POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
KOMARAPALAYAM – 638 183
02.06.2009
RE-ORGANISATION OF POLYTECHNIC ACADEMIC CALENDAR

The annual academic calendar of the Polytechnics prescribed by the DOTE, Government of Tamilnadu is an excellent template to carry out the curricular and co-curricular activities systematically. It gives a sense of orientation and organization of purpose to all the stakeholders by providing clear direction. However, as a kind of summary of feedbacks, suggestions and opinions from the students, teachers and parents of our as well as the neighbourhood institutions, we would like to offer the following proposals.

I. Scheduling the practical examinations after the theory examinations:

Given the tender age of the students in the Polytechnics, the successful completion of practical examinations is a huge mental burden for the students. They are completely forgetting the theory papers once the practical examinations season commences. It is a very crucial period just before the commencement of the theory examinations. Teachers are also busy with the conduct of Practical Examinations. They do not have any time to interact with students regarding the theory subjects.

Even the well prepared, knowledgeable students are under tremendous tension because they have to face their own teachers and the external examiners alone (A new comer) during the practical examinations. For the average students, it is a nightmare till the completion of all three practical examinations per semester. For the below average students with arrears, the situation is all the more palpable. Only after the completion of practical examinations (of course most of the students are getting through the practical examinations with 80 to 100% marks), they turn back their attention and devotion at the theory subjects.

What we gain by conducting the theory examinations after the practical examinations?
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Why don’t we schedule the theory examinations first and practical examinations later?

Let us list out the benefits in our proposal.

i) Once the current theory examination are over (I, III & V Semester in Odd Semester & II, IV & V in the Even Semester), a good number of the students are free, as they do not have theory paper arrears. Therefore, they can peacefully think of the practical examination subjects.

ii) Staff can also arrange easily the practical examinations schedule as more than 50% of them will be free after the conduct of current theory examination regular papers.

iii) Above all, the students can concentrate on the theory subjects by writing re-model examination and undergo corrective sessions with the teachers by using the tension free days available after the last working day of the semester.

II. Commencement of the first working day of the Semester:

If we look at the Tamilnadu Engineering Admission scenario, only after the completion of the major chunk of the MBBS Admission, BE Admission begins, followed by Agriculture, Veterinary, Teacher Training and Paramedical Sciences. Therefore, in the Polytechnic system also, the Direct II Year Lateral Entry may be permitted till the first counseling of the admission process in the Government and Aided Arts & Science Colleges (say in the 3rd week of June of the academic year).

The first semester examinations may also be conducted along with the III & V semester (now we have III & V semester examination in October and I Year examination after a month or so). It is a huge strain in the conduct of examinations and the subsequent valuations during the Odd semester.
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III. Rationalisation of Exam related forms:

The Theory Examination Form Ex.6 and Form Ex.1 may be unified as given in the enclosure. The other forms may also be restructured by assigning this task to a committee of select Exam Co-ordinators.

IV. Publication of Examiners list in the Internet:

Publication of the list of Theory Examination Chief, Additional Chief and Hall Superintendent and the Central Valuation Chief Examiner / Examiner in the DOTE Website will help improve the efficiency of our system.