Fear and tension have enthralled the students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto over their first semester exams.
The students said they fear there may be so many casualties of failure after the examination.
A campus reporter gathered from the complaints of students that the academic-bulky semester was too short and all the activities started very late ― students read with pressure and not pleasure.
Muneer Yaqub, a 300 level student observed that, both students and management of the school are responsible for late commencement of academic activities. According to him, the early commencement of the exams may subsequently lead to massive failure of students.
“Burning candles at night for exams is not something new, but it seems reading is exaggerated this time. This is due to the fact that activities started very late on campus. Students resumed late and some lecturers also did not start on time. A lot of lecturers have not covered their syllabus,” Muneer revealed.
Expressing his trepidation, he said: “I shed tears of sorrow for the newly admitted students. Even their counterparts who are used to the system are afraid. Especially those who were admitted some few weeks to their exams. I see no reason why there won’t be a massive failure for the new students.”
Many students have however absconded their halls of residents for class rooms to prepare for exams. Some students sleep in the class for days without taking their baths.
Taofeek Alao also told our correspondent that he has decided to take the class room as his temporary resident because of exams.
“I think I now prefer sleeping in the class room than my hostel. I only come to the hostel to re-strategise after days of extensive reading in the class room. It’s not excusable enough for me to say this exam caught me unaware. I must excel,” he said hurriedly, preparing to go back to class and read.
The newly admitted students are the most panic ones. Many of them were given admission few weeks to the commencement of examination.
“The semester is too short especially for those of us who were given the confirmation of admission lately,” Safiyya Abdullahi, a new student said.
“I am not fully prepared for the exams due to the fact that I got late admission. Sincerely, I am feeling that I would not be able to pass the exam,” she added.
A new direct entry student, who simply gave her name as Zainab noted that, it appears the school management intends to have a faster semester for students. The plan, he said might not be the best.
“The school calendar does not favour the new students. Most of the new students got admissions very late, especially the direct entry students, which I am one of them.
“I cannot categorically say that I’m fully prepared for the exams. Activities are very clumsy for us. There is tendency of failing especially when one prepares for both exams and tests simultaneously,” she groaned.
In a telephone conversation with our correspondent, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Adamu Aliero said the late commencement of academic activities is connected to the late resumption of students after the long holiday.
“I am a lecturer and I started my lectures as early as possible, but most of my students refused to resume on time. There is nothing a lecturer can teach without students,” he explained.
Adamu added that, students will not be happy if the school calendar is extended. The ability to survive under pressure he said, makes one a man.
He however pledged to release the lectures timetable for the forthcoming semester early, so that students will prepare ahead.
“I wish all students a successful examination,” he concluded.
The writer, Adeyemi Ibrahim, is the President of the National Association of Campus Journalists, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.Â
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