II PU answer scripts.

HD Kumaraswamy

PU Board scores high after spot evaluation clears them of shoddy markingThe Pre-University (PU) department in Malleswaram turned into quite a warzone for four days after the announcement of PU results. Several students staged high-decibel protests alleging the board’s ‘shoddy evaluation’ of theStudents insisted the board was responsible for their bad marks. Opposition parties — BJP and JDS — joined the students’ protests. But the protestors’ bubble burst on Friday when PU officials disproved the students’ claim by doing an on-the-spot tabulation of the answer scripts of some of the demonstrating students.The ‘on-spot’ tabulation was decided upon after former CM and opposition leader(JD-S) and former minister Suresh Kumar (BJP), visited the PU office and insisted on doing so in front of the protesting students. To begin with, the former CM asked the officials to evaluate the answer papers of one of the protesting girls, who contended that she was not given grace marks. However, upon spot evaluation by an experienced evaluator, it was revealed that she was given grace marks and there was no mistake in the evaluation of her paper. Similarly, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Ravi Krishna Reddy gave out the (roll) number of a student from Ballari who had alleged a mistake in the final tally of his numbers. The revaluation of his papers revealed no mistakes on the part of the board. Thanks to many such rechecks, the students’ allegations were thoroughly exposed.“The students had no courage to accept the fact they had not done well in exams. They probably feared punitive action by their parents. Their guilt after the spot evaluation was obvious when the students declined to comment any further,” Kumar told Bangalore Mirror.Kumaraswamy, too, cancelled his press meet after he realised that there was no essence in what students had been alleging against the board. Speaking to the media, Kumaraswamy said, “I have not come here to politicise the issue. I am only sharing the concerns of the students. I was of the view that PU Board has (a respectable) image. It should not tarnished with this kind of squabble.” However, the leaders conveyed the sentiments of the parents and students to the officials. They requested them to hold evaluation in a transparent way and ensure that the photocopies of answer scripts are delivered at the earliest.The primary and secondary education minister — Kimmane Rathnakar — had criticised the actions of Sushma Godbole, director of PU board, for failing to convince parents and students in writing. But after meeting her for more than an hour on Friday, opposition leaders were happy with her response.“During our talks, we discovered that (Godbole) was calm and confident. She defended every charge with great detail. She had answers for all the allegations that students had made,” said one of the opposition leaders who held talks with the director.