Parents seek redress over change of admission rule.

 

Parents of 100 level  students from the Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, UNILAG, who  were prevented by the school authorities to cross over into the College  of Medicine, have called on relevant stakeholders to advise the Vice  Chancellor, Prof. Bello Rahmon to rescind his decisions and allow the  affected students pursue their dreams. 

  They spoke at a meeting organised by The Education Rights Campaign ERC  held at the International Press Centre, Ogba.  Recall that recently, some students from the Departments of Medicine and  Surgery, MBBS Dentistry, Medical Laboratory, Nursing, Pharmacology and  Radiography held a protest at the gate of the institution over what they  called change of rules of admission into the College of Medicine, Idi  Araba. 

The allegations included raising the previous cumulative score  average of 50 for the Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry,  Medical Laboratory, Science , Nursing and Physiotherapy to possession of  4.11 CGPA for MBBS; 3.25 CGPA for Medical Laboratory Science; 3.06 CGPA  for Physiotherapy, 3.00 for Nursing, and 3.06 CGPA for Dentistry.

 In  the same vein, the 2.00 CGPA entry for pharmacology, Physiology and  Radiology programmes was revised to possession of a minimum CGPA of 2.5.  National Coordinator, ERC, Hassan Soweto said UNILAG, reneged on the  contract it entered into with 100 level Faculty of Science students for  pre-medical and pharmacy programmes 2014-2016, by raising the minimum  requirements for the transfer of a first year(100 level) student into  the College of Medicine.  

Mr Soweto said a total of 271 students who met the requirements for the  transfer into the College of Medicine , only 169 students got accepted,  leaving the rest of the 102 students with an option of either changing  course of study or stepping down. This he said amounted to injustice and  indiscretion of the school’s authority. 

 His words, “We hold that the affected students must not be made to  suffer for the indiscretion of the university. We demand that they  allowed to proceed to the College as they have met the entry  requirements. By killing”their dreams, it is Nigeria and Nigerians who  urgently need more doctors, nurses and other health professionals that  we are killing. 

 Mr Chuks Elue, the aggrieved parents representative, said the decision  of the university has brought untold hardship to the students, “ As the  students feel traumatic and distraught, that if care is not taken the  students might involve in negative vices. “We want the VC to change this  decision”  Allegation of change of programmes by the school authority for the  affected students:  

For Otunba Ölabisi Modupe , a parent to one of the affected students  told Vanguard that her daughter’ s case was shocking as she was earlier  denied admission into the college, only to find out later that she has  been registered by the school authority for a course she did not  registered. 

 Corroborating the claims, of students previously denied admission to be  given a change of programme, Oludola Oyenuga said that he ought to be in  200l studying Medicine& Surgery, but was given Radiography. This he  attributed to the school’s way of correcting its mistake and placating  the students. I don’t want a change of programme, but Medicine, as it is  my passion. 

 He further started that, “ Denying us our passion to be health  practitioners amount to truncating our dreams and future.  Another student who declined her name said that the earlier decision of  the university and subsequent registering students for programmes they  did not register has caused the students a lot. “ “I feel frustrated and  confused as I initially put Nursing, was denied admission into the  college after the university decision. Now, I even more confuse as I  recently checked my profile only to see I have been given Botany. “ I  want to return back to study Nursing and not Botany. As I feel depress  any time I see my mates already studying in the college.

There are too many doctors, what is wrong with being a radiologist. Our doctors are not well paid. whats the foss about medicine and surgery.