The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, has stated that it is willing to help extra-year students who are having difficulty with their coursework by taking into consideration a waiver for them.
Following academic difficulties, a 200-level student recently attempted suicide, prompting the action.
On Wednesday, PUNCH Metro obtained an exclusive internal memo from the university’s Senate Division dated November 1, 2024.
According to the memo, a special meeting of the dean’s committee was called to discuss the impacted student’s case and then devised measures to show compassion.
According to the memo, which was signed by M.S. Oluwajoba, the Deputy Registrar, the student, whose name was withheld, had transferred from the Faculty of Pharmacy to the Department of Biology Education and had made an attempt on his life on October 16.
The faculty dean took the matter to higher authorities as a result of the incident.
Our correspondent saw a memo addressed to all deans with the title, “Decision Extract: Re: Special Meeting of Committee of Deans held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.”
It partly read, “The Dean, Faculty of Education reported a case of a suicide attempt by a Part II student who transferred from the Faculty of Pharmacy to the Department of Biology Education on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. After due deliberation on the matter, the Committee decided that: Members of staff should continue as usual to offer support to our students.
“The departmental and the Faculty Boards of Examiners are advised and encouraged to provide an enabling environment for students’ support.
“Staff and Part Advisers should kindly cooperate in this regard.
“The above information supersedes the earlier circulated decision extract.”
Any student who had only one or two courses left to complete and had taken those courses in prior semesters “should be considered to graduate on compassionate grounds provided such assistance SHALL NOT change the candidate’s class of degree,” according to an earlier office circular dated October 17, 2024.
Abiodun Olanrewaju, the university’s public relations officer, confirmed the decision when contacted, stating that it was made to stop more suicide attempts.
In an interview on Wednesday, the varsity spokesperson said, “We want to reduce to the barest minimum the commission of suicide due to academic stress or rigour especially by those in the final year who are repeating one or two courses and they are being delayed by that.
“So, the human face there is, given the situation and circumstance of the country, we should just let them go. It doesn’t cost the university anything, and so that it will not be that somebody commits suicide because of extra academic years.”
Our correspondent however gathered from a top official that the decision “is not official” but considered “in the wisdom of the university” given the sensitivity of the situation.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
