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Confusion over use of calculators by Commerce students

Commerce students who have opted for the new syllabus on Mathematics and Statistics (M&S) are a confused lot. They are not sure if they can use calculators for the examinations

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Lecturers apparently told them they can, but board does not allow its use

Commerce students who have opted for the new syllabus on Mathematics and Statistics (M&S) are a confused lot. They are not sure if they can use calculators for the examinations on March 11 (Part I) and March 12 (Part II).

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education does not allow the use of calculators during examinations. But many lecturers had given the M&S students the impression that they would be allowed to.

The lecturers’ belief stemmed from the declaration by the Board of Studies - which frames the syllabus - that M&S students may find the papers difficult without a calculator.

Mathematics and Statistics is not a compulsory subject for Commerce students; those not wanting M&S can opt for Secretarial Practice.

Some teachers claimed that during the training programme for the new syllabus, they were told that M&S students would be allowed to use calculators.

According to a lecturer from a college in Goregaon, even during a review meeting attended by many lecturers and board officers, it was agreed that calculators should be made a pre-requisite for the new syllabus.

“We had informed our students that they would be allowed to use calculators,” a lecturer from Mulund said. “But, during the oral exams a couple of weeks back, we were surprised to learn from external examiners that calculators would not be allowed.”

Some lecturers felt that without a calculator students would find it difficult to finish the two papers, each worth 40 marks, within the specified time of two hours for a paper.
“It is difficult for us to calculate fast as we have to deal with big numbers,” a student from KC College, Churchgate, said. “We will not be able to complete the papers. Chapters like ‘Regression’ are very difficult.”

“Teachers have been told from the beginning that solving the papers would need calculators,” Mukund Andhalkar, secretary of the Mumbai Junior College Teachers’ Union, said. “Students were accordingly told that calculators would be allowed during the exams,” Andhalkar said. Now, if calculators are not permitted, some students might find the papers difficult, he said.

“We will meet the divisional secretary in a couple of days for clear instructions on the issue.”

A lecturer, who did not wish to be named, said, “If those setting the papers assume that calculators will not be permitted, then students may not find a problem. But, generally, while setting a paper, the time required to solve a question is not ascertained.”

State board chairman Vijaysheela Sardesai refused to clarify on the matter. She only said that calculators are  prohibited in exam halls.
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