Medicos resort to hands-free copying

CHENNAI: First year medical students are apparently using hands-free gadgets and Bluetooth headsets to copy in exams that were held under the new system, according to TN Dr MGR Medical University Dr Mayilvahanan Natarajan. He said, “We received reports that students were cheating during the first year exams last August, in some private colleges. Like we see in the movies, we have found that some students had cheated using earpieces and the like.” But, he did not disclose the names of the colleges where such malpractices were detected.Dr Natarajan also announced the return of the controversial system of grading that had led to much trouble last year, after a large number of first year medicos failed their semester exams.  He said that from the next academic year, all first year students would have to compulsorily obtain 50 percent marks in all components (theory, viva and practicals) to pass. “It will be a shock for our students who are accustomed to memorising and reproducing on paper, but it will be good in the long run,” added the VC.  Monthly tests would also be given to help them adapt to this system.To allay students’ fears, he said that dual evaluation  and options for easy re-totaling and re-evaluation would be made possible.The V-C also announced that the 23rd convocation of the university will be held on Wednesday and will be presided over by Governor K Rosaiah, Health Minister Dr VS Vijay and Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy.