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The authorities at University of Calabar, (UNICAL), have reacted to the protest embarked upon by year two students of Nursing and Medicine departments over reported over-admission and an alleged unfair screening exercise to force them to change their courses after writing their examinations
The university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Effiong Eyo, dismissed the students’ claims, saying many of those protesting were not officially admitted to study Medicine or Nursing.
According to him, the Deputy Vice Chancellor had met with the affected students, and it was discovered that some of them gained admission “through side ways,”.
Eyo said further that many others were not listed on the JAMB admission portal.
“Some of them were originally offered admission into other programmes like Human Nutrition, not Medicine or Nursing,” Dr. Eyo said.
He added that the discovery followed an internal audit after an earlier issue involving the Dentistry department exposed multiple irregularities. “The best option for the affected students is to change their course of study.
The students alleged that despite paying all approved school and departmental dues, their admission status was abruptly altered on the school portal without prior notice or official explanation.
Some of the affected students described the development as “unjust and frustrating,” saying the management had failed to communicate any clear criteria for the screening.
One Nursing student who pleaded anonymity said, “We paid every due required by the university school fees, faculty and departmental dues yet after writing our exams, we saw ‘change of programme’ on our portals. When we asked questions, the management kept saying different things some said it was because of one failed course, others said it was because we didn’t do departmental screening.”
She lamented that some officials allegedly demanded extra payments before conducting the departmental screening, leaving many students unable to meet up. “We were told the screening was free, but suddenly they started asking for money. We are here to study, not to be extorted or frustrated,” she added.
Another student from the Department of Medicine and Surgery said many of those affected were admitted after being assured by school officials that “regularization” would secure their place.
“They asked us to do regularization because of the number of students admitted. We complied, paid all required fees, and worked hard to maintain good grades. Now they are saying that those who did regularization or had an ‘F’ should leave the department,” he said.
Some of the affected students alleged that the university admitted more than its approved quota, which has now led to a mass downsizing exercise.
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