Panel proposes open-book, take-home exam system

University students may be allowed to bring their books into the examination hall or even take the question paper home, crack the exam and submit the answer sheet within a stipulated time.

But the open book and take-home exams and 39 other innovative recommendations made by a high-level committee will become reality only after the state approves it.

“Universities may experiment with these non-traditional exams in certain subjects on a pilot basis,” says the draft report prepared by the committee for reforms in examination systems in state universities. “When teaching focuses on application-oriented learning and thinking skills, these reforms will transform the landscape of education,” it adds.

The 19-member high-level committee was formed under the chairmanship of secretary of information technology, Rajesh Aggarwal, after a series of paper leaks at the Mumbai, Nanded and Nagpur universities.

For public feedback, the committee has finalised and uploaded the draft report on the government website.

Such exams are common at international universities and a  few law schools.

Other recommendations include online internal exams, online external exams if possible, online submission of dissertation and portability of mark sheets and degrees to other universities.

The committee has asked all state varsities to be more student-friendly, provide non-credited short-term courses on personality, communication, moral and civic duties and special provisions for disabled students on campus and during examinations.

But whether these become a reality has to be seen as three earlier reports of higher education reforms have not been implemented even after a year.