25/2/2018
PUNE: The
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, has
courted controversy over a question having direct reference to the
controversial statement of Union minister of state for human resource
development Satyapal Singh on Charles Darwin’s human evolution
theory.
The question posed to IISER’s undergraduate students at a
recently held examination sought to know as to what was wrong with Singh’s statement.
The institute argued the question was posed to gauge the “logical reasoning”
ability of the students, but some experts felt IISER could have asked a
“straight question without any reference to Singh.”
IISER dean Sanjeev Galande said, “The question was meant
to test the logical ability of the students about evolution. Just a reference
was made to Singh’s statement. The question had no political tone.” The
students in “question” are pursuing evolution course and the Darwin’s theory is
a part of their study course, Galande said. “There was a note below the
question, clarifying our stand. Most teachers here are scientists and want to
test student’s analytical ability.”
The science fraternity found the question logical. IISER,
Kolkata, director Sourav Pal and former director at NCL, Pune, said, “The
intention probably was to know the students’ understanding. But I feel the
question should have been straight.” Aniket Sule, reader at Homi Bhabha Centre
for Science Education, said, “The question made it clear that the students are
not supposed to give argument on why evolution is correct. Rather they should
give argument on why Singh’s statement did not make any sense.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment