However, All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), holds that re-examination of KCET 2024 would be an additional burden on students.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists demanded re-examination of Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2024, in a protest staged in front of the Malleshwaram Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) office today.
The KCET exam 2024 held on April 18 and 19, reportedly had over 50 questions out of syllabus. Shashank, a member of the student organisation said that around 59 questions asked in the exam were out of syllabus and demanded re-examination of KCET 2024.
The protesters marched to the KEA office in Malleshwaram this morning. Protesters sat down in front of the office raising slogans of “Beke Beku, Nyaya Beku,” when the police forcefully took them away.
However, members of AIDSO, who came to submit a memorandum on the KCET 2024 to the Executive Director of KEA, had a different opinion on the issue. Ashwini K. S., State President of AIDSO, said that re-examination of KCET 2024 would be an additional burden on students, as many of them are about to appear for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), and other exams soon. “The questions that were out of syllabus must be considered as null and void, and marks should be given accordingly to all students,” she added. “This confusion regarding the KCET exam has build anxiety and pressure among students,” said Apoorva, member of AIDSO.
Ashwini, who had interacted with the Executive Director of KEA, said that the department would take actions that benefit the students, and would consider the questions null and void. However, Sreedhar, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of KEA refused to comment on KEA’s decision regarding KCET, stating that it was confidential.
Responding to the issue, the KEA Executive Director, Ramya S. earlier said in a news report, that any objections regarding the questions can be submitted till 27 April, 5.30 p.m. Students can raise objections at [email protected]. They can submit objections to any questions they believe are incorrect or misleading. To ensure their objections are reviewed, students must provide clear reasons for their disputes along with specific details, like the subject, version code, and question number one is objecting to.
Chaithra from Mandya, Sravana from Belagavi and Anitha from Kalaburagi, who gave the exam in 2023, came all the way to Malleshwaram to meet the Executive Director of KEA to raise their concern on the delay in calling students who came in the rank list for counselling section. “The counselling process was supposed to be done within six months of announcing the result. It’s been one year since the results were announced, and we have not received any updates since then,” said Sravana.
Experts suggest conducting re-examination over giving grace marks to students. Dr. Ningamma. C. Betsur, Professor, Department of Education, University of Mysore, said, “ Re-examination should be conducted because if grace marks are given in that extent then the genuine candidates may miss their seats, due to the neck to neck competition.” She further said that out of syllabus questions to this extent is not acceptable as exams like KCET will have competition for even half mark.
Apart from the student organisations, many students and parents came to the office to seek redressal of issues ranging from not calling students for counselling even after the completion of one year post-examination to non-declaration of results.
