By Roland Bayode
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Nigerian students have attributed their reluctance to call for examination scripts on campuses to intimidations from lecturers.
A part 3 student of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Gbolahan Latinwo said students don’t make this demand because they believe lecturers will mark their faces and do what it takes to fail such students in subsequent courses.
“Some students don’t demand because of fear of what the outcome would be. If vindicated, the lecturer will make sure he/ she frustrates the student.
“While I was in Part 1 and 2 when I checked those results, I was sure I ought to get more than that. I went to meet the coordinator of one of the courses, he said that is what I had, even without checking my scripts. I had to leave so I won’t break into tears at the spot,” he said.
Another student of Biotechnology, of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Hammed Sheriffdeen said such demand has not been made constitutional, and due to this factor, several other consequences are bound to arise from such action, and therefore, students do not enjoy the total freedom to take on such demands.
“So, when these demands are eventually met and it turns out that there is no bias whatsoever, some lecturers take it out on the student and might even result in the subsequent and constant biased treatment of such students.”
Sheriffdeen, a 200L student also attributed the system to one devoid of accountability and transparency which can fuel sex or mark for grades as it is always reported on campuses.
“So many atrocities are bound to be swept under the carpet. Since the lecturers are not compelled to release exam scripts to students and the students also do not enjoy the full entitlement to demand such, several bad agendas like sex or money for grades can be pursued.”
A serving corp, Dorcas Abe also revealed that the fear of intimidation and subjection causes reluctance clauses.
She said, “It is believed that when a student request for the remarking of his exam script, he is questioning the capability of the lecturer concerned, so lecturers are averse to it and tend to victimize students who do it. Therefore, students are discouraged from making such requests even when they need them.”
She added that the issue of having sexual relations with lecturers in exchange for good grades or the giving of bribes is another anomaly in our tertiary institutions which may be related to the issue of students being unable to request for the remarking of their exam scripts.
“Students who find themselves in this situation may resort to doing the aforementioned in order not to fail.”
She added that lecturers should change their orientation of being insulted when students request for the remarking of their exam scripts and give students an enabling environment to voice their concerns and for their needs to be met.
A student of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Sulaimon Abdulmalik said students don’t summon the courage to demand exam scripts because of the past incident they heard about people who have done such in the past.
