CRUTECH's Ban on Assessment; Real or ...?
by Ufana, Ishoyor J.
So the management of Cross River University of Technology released a statement indicating that she had banned all forms of continuous assessment, whether it be tests in classrooms or assignments by lecturer to students.
Now, according to the release, banning assessment is an avenue the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh was exploring to try and curb the exchange of money for academic grade. This act is popularly known to students and staff of the University as 'Sorting'. Now, the reason behind the ban is solid, the Vice Chancellor is trying to stop sorting but by banning assessments, that crazy and next to impossible.
The Nigerian University Commission policy states that 30% of a students grade should be made up by his/her assessment and with CRUTECH just about to seek accreditation for most of her courses, this move stands in a way of them achieving that.
Looking at the chances students stand in making their grades without the aid of assessments is four in every ten meaning that the failure rate will shoot to the figurative ceiling and go crashing through it. Now, the information released by University's Registrar stated that the University's Senate was in support of the decision but upon investigation, it was discovered that most of the members of senate were totally unaware of the decision. Top lecturers in various Faculties and Departments had totally no idea that a 'law' had been put into effect and whenever the issue was brought up, they simply waved it aside stating such a declaration as impossible.
Other than that, reactions from the students populace is just as frightening, students are not comfortable with the decision, they think it's wrongly made and frankly, they're right. "Removing assignments and assessments in GSS courses is not acceptable because students will stop taking classes seriously and in the end walk into the examination halls having read text books and probably pass or most likely fail. Test and Assessment determine the standing of a student, they directly imply the amount of effort a student should put into his academics. Banning it leaves the student in a blind spot as to his/her academic standing." That quote was from a really aggrieved student who thought the decision was irrational on the part of the school's management.
Will the decision stand? That is currently unknown, but what is sure is that assessment under proper circumstances are vital is assessing a students academic ability and crapping it out will surely be one of the worst decisions made by the Owan-Enoh led administration.
So the management of Cross River University of Technology released a statement indicating that she had banned all forms of continuous assessment, whether it be tests in classrooms or assignments by lecturer to students.
Now, according to the release, banning assessment is an avenue the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh was exploring to try and curb the exchange of money for academic grade. This act is popularly known to students and staff of the University as 'Sorting'. Now, the reason behind the ban is solid, the Vice Chancellor is trying to stop sorting but by banning assessments, that crazy and next to impossible.
The Nigerian University Commission policy states that 30% of a students grade should be made up by his/her assessment and with CRUTECH just about to seek accreditation for most of her courses, this move stands in a way of them achieving that.
Looking at the chances students stand in making their grades without the aid of assessments is four in every ten meaning that the failure rate will shoot to the figurative ceiling and go crashing through it. Now, the information released by University's Registrar stated that the University's Senate was in support of the decision but upon investigation, it was discovered that most of the members of senate were totally unaware of the decision. Top lecturers in various Faculties and Departments had totally no idea that a 'law' had been put into effect and whenever the issue was brought up, they simply waved it aside stating such a declaration as impossible.
Other than that, reactions from the students populace is just as frightening, students are not comfortable with the decision, they think it's wrongly made and frankly, they're right. "Removing assignments and assessments in GSS courses is not acceptable because students will stop taking classes seriously and in the end walk into the examination halls having read text books and probably pass or most likely fail. Test and Assessment determine the standing of a student, they directly imply the amount of effort a student should put into his academics. Banning it leaves the student in a blind spot as to his/her academic standing." That quote was from a really aggrieved student who thought the decision was irrational on the part of the school's management.
Will the decision stand? That is currently unknown, but what is sure is that assessment under proper circumstances are vital is assessing a students academic ability and crapping it out will surely be one of the worst decisions made by the Owan-Enoh led administration.
UPDATE; The Vice Chancellor recently in an Interview with pressmen stated that the decision was an "On the Spot" decision and it has been nullified as he had met with faculty and departmental heads to seek possible ways to end the "sorting" and test malpractise menace.
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