Mumbai:
When Meena Salkar settles down to write the papers for the doctor of medicine (MD) examination in obstetrics and gynaecology, she will face a few minor hiccups. She will not be able to sneak a peek into her neighbours' paper even if she wants to. Nor will she be able whisper out a suggestion to someone around. This is because the 42-year-old gynaecologist from Bangalore is the only person appearing for the exam from Mumbai University this year.
"It's a scary thought that I will be all alone in the class. But the bright side is that whatever my marks, I will be the topper," joked Salkar. The exam, exclusively for repeaters and students who graduated before 2000, will be held in the first week of November.
The university, which is conducting an exam for only one student for the first time, is not taking it easy. "Even if it is just one student we have to follow all the rules and regulations of a full-fledged exam," said an official in the examination department. There are a handful of takers for this since the exam for new students has now been moved to Nashik University. It was not held for the past two years since no student wanted to appear for it, he added.
"But this year, Salkar filled the form. We could not refuse her," said the official. Every MD answer sheet is assessed by four examiners. And Salkar's will be no exception. Two examiners will be appointed from outside Maharashtra and two from Mumbai. The examiners from outside will prepare draft questions and the remaining will set the paper based on those. The department has arranged for an examination centre at Sion hospital, which will provide a supervisor when Salkar is writing the paper.
However, the only problem is the practical exam. "We have to get the lab equipment ready, arrange for a lab assistant and also appoint a professor to take her viva," added the official.
Though Salkar graduated from Sion hospital 14 years ago, she could not complete her master's degree at the time. "I got married and my priorities shifted from career to family. But now my children are studying in higher secondary classes and I do not have to be after them all the time. So I thought it would be a good time to do an MD," said Salkar.
www.3dsyndication.com
"It's a scary thought that I will be all alone in the class. But the bright side is that whatever my marks, I will be the topper," joked Salkar. The exam, exclusively for repeaters and students who graduated before 2000, will be held in the first week of November.
The university, which is conducting an exam for only one student for the first time, is not taking it easy. "Even if it is just one student we have to follow all the rules and regulations of a full-fledged exam," said an official in the examination department. There are a handful of takers for this since the exam for new students has now been moved to Nashik University. It was not held for the past two years since no student wanted to appear for it, he added.
"But this year, Salkar filled the form. We could not refuse her," said the official. Every MD answer sheet is assessed by four examiners. And Salkar's will be no exception. Two examiners will be appointed from outside Maharashtra and two from Mumbai. The examiners from outside will prepare draft questions and the remaining will set the paper based on those. The department has arranged for an examination centre at Sion hospital, which will provide a supervisor when Salkar is writing the paper.
However, the only problem is the practical exam. "We have to get the lab equipment ready, arrange for a lab assistant and also appoint a professor to take her viva," added the official.
Though Salkar graduated from Sion hospital 14 years ago, she could not complete her master's degree at the time. "I got married and my priorities shifted from career to family. But now my children are studying in higher secondary classes and I do not have to be after them all the time. So I thought it would be a good time to do an MD," said Salkar.
www.3dsyndication.com
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