NIGERIA UNIVERSITIES DIVIDED OVER CANCELLATION OF PASS GRADE
The directive by the National
Universities Commission (NUC)
cancelling the award of ‘Pass’ grade in
the nation’s universities is causing dis
quiet in the Ivory Towers.
The order, which was reportedly issued
last year, came to the front burner at
the 2014/2015 matriculation ceremony
of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto,
when the Vice Chancellor, Prof.
Abdullahi Zuru, informed the fresh
students about the development.
Zuru urged the students to embrace the
new E-grading system in the university
and work hard to earn a good grade.
He pointed out that with the new
grading system, the pass mark for
courses in the universities will now be
45 percent, that is, the D-grade, instead
of the previous 40 percent, which was
E-grade.
In the new order, the minimum class of
degree that students can earn will now
be Third Class. Universities will,
therefore, now only award First Class,
Second Class (Upper Division), Second
Class (Lower Division) and Third Class
degrees.
The matter is, however, generating
heated debates and controversies among
stakeholders in the nation’s higher
education system.
It has virtually divided the universities
into two camps, with one tenaciously
supporting the old grading system while
the other sees great merit in the new
order.
Those opposed to the new grading
system say the decline in the quality of
education in the universities cannot be
redressed with the reclassification of
degrees.
They want the NUC to, instead, work
towards improving the quality of
teaching and learning by providing
qualified teachers and modern learning
facilities in the institutions.
For them, shoring up the grading
system without provision of the
necessary staffing and equipment will
neither improve academic standards nor
the global ranking of our universities.
They are also of the view that the move
amounts to an erosion of the hard-
earned autonomy of universities.
Those in support of the new grading
system say the upgrading of the score
required to obtain a degree is a step in
the right direction, if properly
implemented.
Besides, they believe that it will make
the students work harder and ultimately
enhance their grade.
As the regulator of university education
in Nigeria, the NUC unarguably has the
statutory responsibility to do whatever
it can to shore up the quality of degrees
awarded by Nigerian universities.
We believe that this increase of the pass
mark required to earn a degree in
Nigerian universities is well within the
authority of the regulatory institution.
It could, indeed, elicit more serious
commitment to their studies from
students when they realise that they
could easily spend years in the uni
versities without passing out with a
degree.
The quality of the worst performing
students in the universities may also be
improved by this initiative.
Nevertheless, we expect the NUC to
properly sell the gains of this initiative
to the universities before implementing
it. The adjustment should not, also, be
done in isolation.
It should be accompanied with other
steps that can help to raise academic
standards. No doubt, the place of
qualified lecturers and well equipped
educational facilities such as libraries
and laboratories cannot be dismissed in
the quest to improve academic
standards in our higher institutions. We
expect more action from NUC in this
regard.
While it is not in contention that the
NUC has the right to fix the pass mark
in our universities, being the regulator
of that level of education, we enjoin
fuller consultation with the authorities
of the various universities for a
harmonious and seamless transition to
the new grading system.
It is necessary to carry all the
stakeholders along for the innovation to
be properly implemented.
The need for a uniform grading system
for the nation’s universities cannot be
overemphasized.
Beyond this, the ‘Pass’ degree is odious
and is largely treated with contempt by
employers of labour.
Abolishing the grade will make students
sit up and brace up to the challenges of
their studies.
Let our universities embrace and
implement the new grading system. It is
also necessary for NUC and the
universities to properly enlighten both
the students and lecturers about the
initiative so that all the stakeholders
can be well informed about it and get
prepared for its implementation.
Universities Commission (NUC)
cancelling the award of ‘Pass’ grade in
the nation’s universities is causing dis
quiet in the Ivory Towers.
The order, which was reportedly issued
last year, came to the front burner at
the 2014/2015 matriculation ceremony
of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto,
when the Vice Chancellor, Prof.
Abdullahi Zuru, informed the fresh
students about the development.
Zuru urged the students to embrace the
new E-grading system in the university
and work hard to earn a good grade.
He pointed out that with the new
grading system, the pass mark for
courses in the universities will now be
45 percent, that is, the D-grade, instead
of the previous 40 percent, which was
E-grade.
In the new order, the minimum class of
degree that students can earn will now
be Third Class. Universities will,
therefore, now only award First Class,
Second Class (Upper Division), Second
Class (Lower Division) and Third Class
degrees.
The matter is, however, generating
heated debates and controversies among
stakeholders in the nation’s higher
education system.
It has virtually divided the universities
into two camps, with one tenaciously
supporting the old grading system while
the other sees great merit in the new
order.
Those opposed to the new grading
system say the decline in the quality of
education in the universities cannot be
redressed with the reclassification of
degrees.
They want the NUC to, instead, work
towards improving the quality of
teaching and learning by providing
qualified teachers and modern learning
facilities in the institutions.
For them, shoring up the grading
system without provision of the
necessary staffing and equipment will
neither improve academic standards nor
the global ranking of our universities.
They are also of the view that the move
amounts to an erosion of the hard-
earned autonomy of universities.
Those in support of the new grading
system say the upgrading of the score
required to obtain a degree is a step in
the right direction, if properly
implemented.
Besides, they believe that it will make
the students work harder and ultimately
enhance their grade.
As the regulator of university education
in Nigeria, the NUC unarguably has the
statutory responsibility to do whatever
it can to shore up the quality of degrees
awarded by Nigerian universities.
We believe that this increase of the pass
mark required to earn a degree in
Nigerian universities is well within the
authority of the regulatory institution.
It could, indeed, elicit more serious
commitment to their studies from
students when they realise that they
could easily spend years in the uni
versities without passing out with a
degree.
The quality of the worst performing
students in the universities may also be
improved by this initiative.
Nevertheless, we expect the NUC to
properly sell the gains of this initiative
to the universities before implementing
it. The adjustment should not, also, be
done in isolation.
It should be accompanied with other
steps that can help to raise academic
standards. No doubt, the place of
qualified lecturers and well equipped
educational facilities such as libraries
and laboratories cannot be dismissed in
the quest to improve academic
standards in our higher institutions. We
expect more action from NUC in this
regard.
While it is not in contention that the
NUC has the right to fix the pass mark
in our universities, being the regulator
of that level of education, we enjoin
fuller consultation with the authorities
of the various universities for a
harmonious and seamless transition to
the new grading system.
It is necessary to carry all the
stakeholders along for the innovation to
be properly implemented.
The need for a uniform grading system
for the nation’s universities cannot be
overemphasized.
Beyond this, the ‘Pass’ degree is odious
and is largely treated with contempt by
employers of labour.
Abolishing the grade will make students
sit up and brace up to the challenges of
their studies.
Let our universities embrace and
implement the new grading system. It is
also necessary for NUC and the
universities to properly enlighten both
the students and lecturers about the
initiative so that all the stakeholders
can be well informed about it and get
prepared for its implementation.
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