Panel for revamp of choice-based Credit Semester System

B Hridayakumari Committee constituted to revamp the choice based credit and semester system (CBCSS) in colleges in the state is all set to submit its report to the state government with recommendations including overhaul of examination system, grading, internal assessments and valuation while sticking to the CBCSS.


According to sources, the committee would recommend major changes in the semester examinations which includes conducting the core and complimentary examinations at the end of second, fourth and sixth semester, while the examination for language papers and open courses could be conducted at the end of first, third and fifth semester.


The report would further recommend centralised valuation for the core and complimentary papers and home valuation for other exams.


“By recommending alternate end-semester examinations for various subjects and introducing new pattern in paper valuation, we hope that the burden on teachers would be lessened,” said a member of the committee.



Other major suggestions are in connection with changing the scale of grading.


The committee will propose a switch over from direct to indirect grading which includes shifting to the seven-point grading system from the present five.


By changing to the indirect grading system, the scale will become less important with teachers giving marks to an answer and then converted it to grades using pre-specified bands.


On the internal assessments, sources said that during the sittings, the committee has received lot of complaints and it decided to suggest an external-internal ratio of 80:20, from the present 75:25.


Sources further said that the report would also include recommendations to rectify the issues related with the syllabus.


Though there were calls from certain corners to do away with the CBCSS, most of the views presented before the committee were of the opinion that the present system should continue with major revamp rectifying the flaws in the examination and grading methods.


The committee formed by Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) has taken views from colleges, managements, individuals and various organisations from across the state.


It had conducted a total of four sittings in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode and Kannur. Committee would submit its final report to the state government by mid July.