ANU under fire over contract faculty grading distance learning answer scripts

The Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU) is facing a burning allegation that contract graduate faculty members graded undergraduate semester written exams. The assessment was conducted at Prabhala Degree College, one of the two authorized centres, raising concerns about the competence of the staff employed for the job.

The issue mainly concerns answer scripts for subjects such as the Life Skills Course – Environmental Education, Social Work, Food and Nutrition, Chemistry, English and other subjects related to the ANU Center for Distance Learning exams.

The university has reportedly entrusted nearly 1.93 lakh undergraduate semester exams to the college for evaluation. Out of the total number of scripts, 11,164 papers were evaluated by nine faculty members from various concerned subjects allegedly suggested by the university authorities, which has now become a matter of concern.

There were allegations that the college employed contract faculty members who work at postgraduate level at the ANU, instead of employing qualified teaching faculty at undergraduate level to assess answer scripts.

Professor D. Ramachandran, coordinator (examinations) at the ANU Center for Distance Education, told The Hindu that the university had arranged for an evaluator at the request of the college. He explained that the college was looking for faculty members to review theses in certain subjects for which suitable faculty were reportedly not available in colleges across the state. He added that the study council of the university, in coordination with the departments concerned, proposed nine faculty members for evaluation.

Professor Ramachandran acknowledged that recognized faculty members at undergraduate level are not available for the subjects concerned. He said the required recognition has to be given by the Andhra Pradesh Commissionerate of Higher Education.

As a result, chemistry and other science faculty members were employed to evaluate life science-related answer scripts, raising questions about their credibility.

Another allegation was that the answer scripts were sent to the residences of the assessors for correction, instead of being assessed in the designated premises of the college.

However, the principal and founder of the college, Prabhala Kishore, denied the allegation. He insisted that no answer scripts were sent to the residence of the evaluators and that all the evaluators visited the college and completed the evaluation papers on its premises.

He said the college management has explained its stand to the university authorities and the university can verify the facts if it has any doubts. Prof Ramachandran said further action would be taken if necessary.

Published – 12 October 2026 22:09 IST