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DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
SHIPPING
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Authorised by
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EAC Branch File No:
ENG/EXAM-17(9)/99
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EACQMP Chap VI
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DYCS
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Instructions to Examiners
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Circular 019
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Issue No. 00
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Dated: 07 June 2000
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This is to bring forth some
ideas, considerations of which have become essential with the
changing scenario in the shipping industry. You are very well
aware that the examinations under the MEO 1998 rules have already
been commenced and are in the process of changing over from the
old examination system to the new examination system. There has
been a paradigm shift in philosophy regarding the importance and
methodology of each grade of certificate of competency vis-à-vis
the Indian and the world shipping manning scenario. Since you
are aware of the change in terminology for the grades and the
complexity with which the examinations were conducted earlier,
the following should be of interest to you and compliance after
a generous thought:
(1) The Class IV examinations
(new) are now devised in a way whereby the candidate should be
able to touch the topic with logic and knowledge. He is not expected
to either give an exhaustive and learned answer to the questions,
or an accurate and saturated in detailed technical contents. With
the limited experience that the candidate has, and taking into
consideration his academic background it would be futile to test
his academic and technical in-depth knowledge. The questions are
so devised as to test his logic, comprehension, ability to think
of an alternative practical solution and basically to spell out
a thinking process. The questions are hence so devised that there
is no scope for exhaustive literary pursuits.
(2) For years the passing rate
for Class IV oral under the (old) examination system has been
around 70%. These candidates generally filled up the bulk of manning
in Indian and foreign companies, since they were duly certificated
people. The present exercise of conducting the Class IV (new)
would also be on the same line as they would have had the necessary
academic background a structured workshop and on board training,
a mandatory preparatory course and a necessary screen test or
assessment in the form of a MEO examination.
(3) The entire process of conducting
the examination now is in the form of a screen test whereas in
statistical terms, the "mesh size" has to be determined by the
examiner. If the "mesh size" is increased and the stringency reduced
then the objective of passing more number of candidates will be
achieved. However, the mesh also has boundaries of quality and
competency. It is thus very necessary to ensure that the levels
of quality and competency are maintained even while increasing
the mesh size. In other words even if the objective to pass more
number of candidates is set forth, the levels of quality are not
to be compromised with. To that extent the present examination
system for Class IV (new) which should be on par with the Class
IV (old) in terms of levels of competency, has now been modified
in a manner in which the levels of competency required are as
those under STCW 95 and yet would not require a recourse to voluminous
theoretical in puts as under the (old) examination system. It
is for this reason that the candidate now has to write all 10
questions compulsorily, alongwith a functional approach with additional
subjects.
This whole exercise has been
to bring in objectivity in the examination system and transparency
in the methods of practice. It also goes without saying that the
passing rate must be commensurate with all the additional efforts
put in. This objective factor, thinking and philosophy must be
brought to the notice of all the examiners so that they have a
pragmatic approach to this entire examination process and are
more pro-active in their work. If at any time there is a need
for better understanding of this philosophy then we would have
no hesitation in explaining the new direction for the examination
system. In months to come, this entire process will take its final
shape and by 2001 it would have undergone a dramatic change. We
would thus request that there should be close interaction between
the examiner of engineers, the local examiners and the chief examiner
of engineers at the Directorate to be able to succeed.
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