Pleas for reforming grading system
Abul Quasem Haider | Friday, 15 August 2008
The universities that earlier followed the North American 'curriculum', had grading system. Now most of them, both in public and private sectors, have introduced the grading system. Recently, the University Grants Commission (UGC) have sent orders, asking for the introduction of the grading system in all the universities. The grading system works as follows : A+ = 80 and more, 'A' = 75-79, 'A = 70-74, , 'B+'= 65-69, 'B'= 60-64, 'B -'= 55-59 'C+'= 50-54, 'C'= 45-49, 'D'= 40-44 and F= 00 - 39.
Most of the government-run universities have introduced this system while a good number of private universities are yet to introduce it. They are continuing with a different system that was introduced earlier. Most private universities, specially those following the North American Curriculum, adopted the grading system of A = 90 and more, 'A-' = 85 - 89, 'B += 80 -84, 'B'= 75 - 79, 'B= 70 - 74, 'C+= 65 - 69, 'C'= 60-64, 'D+= 55 - 59, 'D'= 50 - 54 and F= 00 - 49.
Introduction of UGC's Integrated Grading System would create an acute problem in future for the students intending to go to North America for higher education. This integrated grading system will not be acceptable to North American universities which treat 90 and above marks as grade- 'A'. Moreover, there is no 'A+' in the North American universities. So, it is likely to create a complication regarding grading when a student from Bangladesh would sent his or her mark sheet to a North American university seeking admission. It is, therefore, necessary to review the grading system devised by the UGC, specially for the universities.
Grading was introduced in Bangladesh for the secondary school certificate (SSC) examination in 2001.
In 2001 a total of 76 students got GPA-5 and 41,917 students got it in 2008. A question arose regarding the standard of GPA-5 after so many students got it. The number of students who got GPA-5 under seven education boards of the country is shown below year-wise:
YearNumber of students who got GPA-5
200176
2002327
20031388
20048097
200515,631
200624,384
200725,732
200841,917
The number of students who got GPA-5, from 2001 to 2003 is much less compared to the subsequent years. The reasons for a limited number of students getting GPA-5 until 2003 is attributed to the strict requirement of obtaining 80 to 100 marks in each of eight subjects separately to be graded A+'.
But, in 2004, when a fourth (4th) subject was taken into consideration for evaluation, a student securing 'A', that is 70 to 79 marks in three subjects, got GPA-5. The results treated a student, who secured 80 to 100 marks in eight subjects, at par with the student who secured 80 to 100 marks in five to seven subjects.
Since admission will be given on the basis of SSC results, without any tests, it was necessary to make a distinction between the students who got A+ in all subjects and who did not to show them separately under categories A and B at the time of publication of the results.
For example, a student, who secured A+ in five subjects and A in three subjects and got GPA-5 taking into consideration the evaluation of 01 subject, may be mentioned, within bracket against his or her roll no. If a student secures 'A+ in 6, 7 or 8 subjects and gets GPA-5, that may also be shown against his or her roll number. If it is done, the students and the guardians would be able to know the actual result. This will create an impetus to encourage the students to get W+2 in all the subjects.
Students of different schools of the city, who got GPA-5, pointed out that there was a difference of 20 marks between a student who secured GPA-5 obtaining grade 'A+' with 80 marks and another student who got it securing 100 marks. The heads of different schools and colleges and also many educationists and guardians also expressed the view that treated the two students at par was not justifiable. Since all the meritorious students were placed in Grade- "A+ it was difficult to evaluate real merit of the students. The number of GPA-5 getters will gradually increase until the highest achievers are shown separately splitting them into two grades. Consequently, all the students securing GPA-5, in the absence of proper merit evaluation, will not get admission to reputed schools. The students who secured GPA-5 in 2002-2003 got rewards both from the government and the private sources. The reputed colleges directly admitted them. But in 2004-2007, the GPA-5 getters had to face admission test to qualify for admission to reputed colleges. It indicates the standard of GPA-5 has deteriorated considerably since 2004.
So, reform of grading system is necessary for the SSC examination. For a proper evaluation of merit of the students, the existing grading system may be reformed as under:
Range of marksGradeGPA point
95-100A+5.0
90-94A4.75
85-89A-4.5
80-84B+4.25
75-7984.0
70-74B-3.5
65-69C+3.0
60-64C2.5
55-59D+2.0
50-54D1.0
00-49F0.0
A uniform grading system should apply to SSC, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and other levels of higher education. It would be better if it is revised following the curriculum of the North American universities. The grading system, introduced by the UGC for the universities as well as the grading system for SSC and HSC exams, needs to be revised in the light of the above suggestions.A national level committee, with reputed personalities and experienced educationists, should be appointed to revise and implement the suggested system of grading. Besides, educationists having experience in international education system specially in North American education system should also be included in the committee.
To restrict the easy way of obtaining GPA-5 at SSC and HSC levels, the teachers and the examiners should take more care in evaluating the scripts, following a clear guideline.
(The writer is chairman, Eastern University, vice chairman, Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh)
Most of the government-run universities have introduced this system while a good number of private universities are yet to introduce it. They are continuing with a different system that was introduced earlier. Most private universities, specially those following the North American Curriculum, adopted the grading system of A = 90 and more, 'A-' = 85 - 89, 'B += 80 -84, 'B'= 75 - 79, 'B= 70 - 74, 'C+= 65 - 69, 'C'= 60-64, 'D+= 55 - 59, 'D'= 50 - 54 and F= 00 - 49.
Introduction of UGC's Integrated Grading System would create an acute problem in future for the students intending to go to North America for higher education. This integrated grading system will not be acceptable to North American universities which treat 90 and above marks as grade- 'A'. Moreover, there is no 'A+' in the North American universities. So, it is likely to create a complication regarding grading when a student from Bangladesh would sent his or her mark sheet to a North American university seeking admission. It is, therefore, necessary to review the grading system devised by the UGC, specially for the universities.
Grading was introduced in Bangladesh for the secondary school certificate (SSC) examination in 2001.
In 2001 a total of 76 students got GPA-5 and 41,917 students got it in 2008. A question arose regarding the standard of GPA-5 after so many students got it. The number of students who got GPA-5 under seven education boards of the country is shown below year-wise:
YearNumber of students who got GPA-5
200176
2002327
20031388
20048097
200515,631
200624,384
200725,732
200841,917
The number of students who got GPA-5, from 2001 to 2003 is much less compared to the subsequent years. The reasons for a limited number of students getting GPA-5 until 2003 is attributed to the strict requirement of obtaining 80 to 100 marks in each of eight subjects separately to be graded A+'.
But, in 2004, when a fourth (4th) subject was taken into consideration for evaluation, a student securing 'A', that is 70 to 79 marks in three subjects, got GPA-5. The results treated a student, who secured 80 to 100 marks in eight subjects, at par with the student who secured 80 to 100 marks in five to seven subjects.
Since admission will be given on the basis of SSC results, without any tests, it was necessary to make a distinction between the students who got A+ in all subjects and who did not to show them separately under categories A and B at the time of publication of the results.
For example, a student, who secured A+ in five subjects and A in three subjects and got GPA-5 taking into consideration the evaluation of 01 subject, may be mentioned, within bracket against his or her roll no. If a student secures 'A+ in 6, 7 or 8 subjects and gets GPA-5, that may also be shown against his or her roll number. If it is done, the students and the guardians would be able to know the actual result. This will create an impetus to encourage the students to get W+2 in all the subjects.
Students of different schools of the city, who got GPA-5, pointed out that there was a difference of 20 marks between a student who secured GPA-5 obtaining grade 'A+' with 80 marks and another student who got it securing 100 marks. The heads of different schools and colleges and also many educationists and guardians also expressed the view that treated the two students at par was not justifiable. Since all the meritorious students were placed in Grade- "A+ it was difficult to evaluate real merit of the students. The number of GPA-5 getters will gradually increase until the highest achievers are shown separately splitting them into two grades. Consequently, all the students securing GPA-5, in the absence of proper merit evaluation, will not get admission to reputed schools. The students who secured GPA-5 in 2002-2003 got rewards both from the government and the private sources. The reputed colleges directly admitted them. But in 2004-2007, the GPA-5 getters had to face admission test to qualify for admission to reputed colleges. It indicates the standard of GPA-5 has deteriorated considerably since 2004.
So, reform of grading system is necessary for the SSC examination. For a proper evaluation of merit of the students, the existing grading system may be reformed as under:
Range of marksGradeGPA point
95-100A+5.0
90-94A4.75
85-89A-4.5
80-84B+4.25
75-7984.0
70-74B-3.5
65-69C+3.0
60-64C2.5
55-59D+2.0
50-54D1.0
00-49F0.0
A uniform grading system should apply to SSC, Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and other levels of higher education. It would be better if it is revised following the curriculum of the North American universities. The grading system, introduced by the UGC for the universities as well as the grading system for SSC and HSC exams, needs to be revised in the light of the above suggestions.A national level committee, with reputed personalities and experienced educationists, should be appointed to revise and implement the suggested system of grading. Besides, educationists having experience in international education system specially in North American education system should also be included in the committee.
To restrict the easy way of obtaining GPA-5 at SSC and HSC levels, the teachers and the examiners should take more care in evaluating the scripts, following a clear guideline.
(The writer is chairman, Eastern University, vice chairman, Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh)