KEMI BUSARI, OAU

This is not the best of time in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, as students are protesting the restructuring of their examination time-table. According to them, the time-table has been restructured to end earlier than previously scheduled.

The Harmattan semester examination which was slated to start on the 18th of June and end 13th of July has been drawn back to end on the 2nd of July 2012 (two weeks).

The protest which commenced by the mobilisation of students in various halls of residence on Saturday, the 16th of June, proceeded to the university senate building where a congress was held.

Part of the decisions of the congress which was submitted to the university management in a letter include; the reversal of the ‘slim-fitted’ time-table, the unconditional reinstatement of the students union and the improvement in the general welfare of students.

The university management in response to this letter after a brief meeting made it known that the information about the ‘collapse of examination to two weeks are not true and should be discountenanced’

The circular signed by the university registrar, O.A Ogunruku stated clearly the reasons for the management’s actions. “The position of the university administration is that departments had been advised to look into their time-tables with a view to adjusting this in respect of certain courses that are flung as a result of lack of venue which are now being provided such that the affected students can complete their examinations along with their colleagues.”

A cross section of students interviewed most of whom will prefer anonymity expressed dissatisfaction on the ‘tsunamicious time-table.’

Most of them who spoke grievingly lamented on the bad results of last semester’s examination which they attributed to the compressed time-table of then.

As it stands, the institution runs on a status of uncertainty as the students are not reneging on their position.  It would also be recalled that last semester’s examination was also compressed because of the ASUU strike which ended in February 2012.