By: Felix Ikpotor
The management of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni, Rivers State has suspended its on-going online examinations after several protest, complain and cries by both students, civil society groups and other well meaning Nigerians.
A statement credited to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ozo Mekuri-Ndimele and posted on the university’s online platform, the school said suspension was to allow more students time to pay up their fees.
“Following the plea by some well-meaning citizens of the State, the Management of IAUE has decided to suspend the ongoing online examinations till further notice. This is to allow more students some time to pay their fees. The Senate of the University will meet soon to decide a new date for the examinations”, he said.
PHSpectstor recalls that before now the Rivers Civil Society Organisation(RIVSCO) had criticized the decision of the school to go ahead with the examinations despite the alleged irregularities which marred a mock trial online exam carried out a week ago to ascertain the viability and possibility of the process.
RIVSCO said in a stament by its Public Relations Officer, Comrade Solomon Lenu that it was surprised and disturbed because, from all indications and available indices, it was clear that the school is not ready or capable at the moment to carry out such online based exams.
It added that: “Coming at a time when the global community and advanced nations are still experimenting the viability of this new educational challenge pose by the COVID-19 pandemic. More advanced countries are making the online based exams optional, for students in places with even more advance amenities but here in Rivers State with our epileptic and near none existing infrastructure, the school’s management of Ignatius Ajuru University has decided to make it compulsory without an option, and combining same with threats and draconian measures”.
.However, the body saidi “t is instructive to state that we are not against e-learning or Open Distant Learning system ODL, but that proper structures and a workable model must be put in place before such practice becomes a standard. And this is our position in solidarity with the students, because the students ought not to be made the scapegoat of the COVID-19 pandemic as they played no role in bringing about the virus which they are equally victims to”.
