All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.
Ellen Glasgow.
Change is eminent but that change must be seen to have a positive impact on the society.
Somewhere in February 2011, the Registrar of the nation's premier university Mr. Joseph Marfo granted an interview to Citi Fm where he said that starting from the following academic year, the university will only award grade A to students who score 80% and above.
This is unlike previously when one needed to make a minimum mark of 70% and above to get A+ and 65-69 to get an A-. In the new grading system, one needs to get 75-79 to get B+ and 70-74 to get a B. One also needs to get 65-69 to get C+ which mark would have fetched one A- in the old grading system.
Level 100 used to be non-scoring but it has also been wiped out. As if that was not enough, the classification of degrees is also reviewed upwards. Previously, one needs to get a Final Grade Point of 3.6 to make a 1st class but it is also raised to 3.75.
Instead of the university authorities finding solutions to enormous problems that students face on campus, this is what they think students are in a dying need of. Those on the Distance Education Programme have to wait half way into the semester to get their books: sometimes almost at the tail end of the semester. What do you expect students like these to do with almost 300 pages (six units; thirty six sections) book within two months?
I must also say that, this grading system to a large extent defeats some aspects of University Education vis-a-vis socialization and other extra curriculum activities.
Most of us concur with Mr. Daniel Kumi-Gyan the Registrar of KNUST when he said in an interview with focus News that changing the grading system is not necessarily the best way to make students more productive.
One would see the difference when one compares the transcript of those in L300-400 and those who have already completed with those who are currently in L200 and 300.
If this inhumane policy is not checked immediately, it would become a major contributor to unemployment. The labour market is very competitive and one wonders what the university authorities wish to achieve by placing two groups with the same certificate base on different grading systems in one market.
I would like to plead with the Vice Chancellor and the Academic Board to take a second look at these changes. I would also like to plead with the Ministry of Education to also as a matter of urgency take a look at this changes which sought to make students "anti-sos" in order to secure the future of the students and the nation.
The writer is a student
The class system has been reviewed. Unfortunately, that will not cause a significant change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you if you say there are problems that need to be addressed other than a GRADING SYSTEM. I'm a L100 and as i write this i have limited knowledge about our grading system. I don't understand how our GPA or is it DPA, i don't know the full 'abbreviation' is calculated. Every body i ask seems to get me cinfused with different ways of calculating it. The authorities should instead of thinking of grading systems, be thinking of how to help we the freashers understand certain basic things about university culture which have direct effect on our academic performance, our productivity and our GRADES.
ReplyDeleteBy: Bright More
The grading system is indeed an inhumane move. They graduated with good classes because of the grading system at their time but they want to make things difficult for us. Ghana is full of selfish people who want to destroy the lives of other people. IHow do you expect someone offering Math to make all these grades? This is just a move to cut short people getting first class. Selfish people!!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important piece. Am also a level 100 student who is not even aware of how we are graded. Moreover, we have started our second semester without our slides, not to talk about our last semester's exams scores.what will be my value as a first class graduate if I am an 'anti-so'? How do I relate with my co-workers when I have spent all my times learning without socialising all because of a wicked grading system? Are u only interested in building people with first class in anti socialization? Work on our qualities as a whole not only in making the grades. Look at even the kind of tablets you are selling to us. Low quality material. How can I use this for four years? A machine that cannot stand the test of time? God saves us us!!!
ReplyDeleteGood comments these are but where are they heading towards? No where ... We cant do anything about it but comply to it.. Lets rather look at the bright side of it, we become outstanding among our peers from other schools, our second class lower is even better than any other school's first class.. etc.. Lets learn hard and have CONFIDENCE in ourselves and we will make it... God be our helper..
ReplyDeleteSubhana llah we are making all efforts to meet this terrible new grading system but the minister of education must see to do something about we all know that they want us to be more analytical nd competitive intercontinentaly but we can't they must please think about this please our leaders help us to achieve nd succeed us God did to u when u were like us
ReplyDeleteWell i guess this grading system has come to stay. However, in University of Ghana classes of degree and their FGPA are
ReplyDelete1st class 3.60 - 4.0
2nd class (upper) 3.00 - 3.59
2nd class (lower) 2.00 - 2.99
3rd class 1.50 - 1.99
pass 1.00 - 1.49
fail 0.00 - 0.99
but in Valley View University it is as follows:
1st class 3.60 - 4.00
2nd class (upper) 3.25 - 3.59
2nd class (lower) 2.50 - 3.24
3rd class 2.00 - 2.49
pass 1.50 - 1.99
fail 0.00 - 1.49
I don't understand why they vary. The university also gives A for those who get 80% and above. This system has put a lot of pressure on students. It’s very sad.