PANIC: Students Shiver As Online Examination Rumour Keeps Bustling The Air

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe


Students of Higher Institutions of Learning which have been engaging in online learning, since the federal government ordered the closure of schools, have been reacting to the rumors that online examinations will be conducted if schools are not reopened before August 10th, 2020.

Students who have been discussing this issue among one another via virtual chatting and phone calls said they are waiting for management of involved schools to debunk the rumors as they felt in every rumor there must be an iota of truth, adding that alternative plan should be considered instead of the rumor happened to be true.



However, some students played along with the rumors as they believed that it is a welcome development as the process will make the graduating students leave the schools on the scheduled time and the school calendar will be on track as well.



On the other hand, it is not all the higher institutions of learning that have been practicing the online lecturing while those that have been doing the online lecturing started the initiative in accordance with the directive of the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu who on Thursday, 26th March 2020 held a teleconference with 237 Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts on how to engage their students academically through virtual learning.



 In the conversation which lasted four and a half hours, the Minister urged all the people concerned to convince the students to embrace this new development within this period of coronavirus pandemic.



So, as we are expecting the minister of education to sway into the rumor of online examinations, our reporter conducted interviews with some students via the WhatsApp medium.



A student of Ibadan Polytechnic, Kukute Emmanuel, said the online lectures were consistently held only in private institutions as he felt that the process was abruptly stopped in a few weeks of commencement in government-controlled schools while some do not attempt to do that up to the moment of granting this interview.



He added that such rumors could only be ranging in the environment of private institutions that it would never happen in government-owned schools as he believed that nothing can not stand on anything.



"In my opinion, I think the opinion of the students of involved schools should be sought before such procedure could be imposed," he said. 



A student of Nigerian Institute of Journalism, (NIJ), Tolulope Oke, said he has great concern concerning the new development as he believed that things need to be addressed if truly the rumor is true as he felt that many of his colleagues have not balanced their first-semester school fees, which made them not to write the first semester examinations.



He added that Some of his colleagues have not been online all through the online classes, reiterating that is due to some factors of not having a smartphone, having data,  coming online on time; missing important lectures.


He said, "As regards this exam, if truly it is true, the notice was quite short, putting some of us or most of us in a very uncomfortable situation."



"We also have assignments we need to work on. Both groups and individuals! Thus, making it a short time for us to go through our slides and lectures from the onset," he added.



A student from Lagos State University, (LASU), Rasheedat Salami, said she has no fear in such rumors as she believed that examination could only come up when the federal government reopens the school because students of LASU were sent home when the second-semester lectures just started.



"Despite the fact that we have not been having online lectures, I don't buy the idea of online exams for the private institutions as only the problem of the network can hinder them from performing well," she said.