BDS students fummoxed by mass failure

KOCHI: The BDS students are flummoxed by the first year MBBS results that were out on Wednesday and have attributed their own poor results to the change in regulations and examination procedures.
While 67 per cent of students failed in the BDS examination, the majority of the MBBS students has passed, said a student of a dental college in Thiruvananthapuram.
“It’s only because the Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) has raised the minimum pass mark for theory from 45 per cent to 50 per cent for BDS students while the pass percentage for MBBS is still an average of 50 per cent for theory, viva and internals put together.
We came to know of the regulation only last month when our results were out.
Even the grace mark allotment has been changed.

There are three papers for the first year. Earlier five marks each could be given to those who have failed in two subjects but now only five marks are granted to those who have passed in two subjects which is not being done in a proper way, he alleged.
The KUHS notification clearly states that the change in the minimum pass mark is applicable only for 2011- 2012 batch, said a few BDS students.
The fact is that all the students have written the same entrance examination.
“Our examinations were advanced by 10 days from August 13 without notice.
Many new chapters were uploaded in the syllabus at the last minute.
We had to to cope with the change from one university to another.” “While some principals say that only the provisional marks are out and we can attend the second year of the course, we are in a dilemma.
We may have to sit in the supplementary class,” said a few students.
“Raising the level to 50 per cent is good to improve the standard of education but the KUHS norms should be standardised for all courses, said a college principal. When asked about the issue, the Controller of Examination said the exams were conducted smoothly.
A model examination was also held and there were no complaints so far,” said Dr Sudheer, Controller of Examinations. Registrar Dr Iype Varghese said: “The regulations were made as per the suggestions of the board of studies and faculty.
The MBBS board took another stand. We put this on the site in May 2010 and it is applicable to the said batch.
Many principals’ meets were held. We did away with the multiple choice question. Of the 22 dental colleges, only three are government colleges and the 1,600 students did not register any complaint when a panel of experts waited for their response soon after the examinations.”