Fasilat Oluwuyi
The recently released academic calendar for the first semester 2019/2020 academic session has continued to generate mixed reactions from students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
The calendar released by the management on the 21st of February, slated six months for the first semester with 22 weeks duration.
Meanwhile,this seems to be slightly different from what is written in the students’ handbook which stipulates that a semester will have not less than 19 weeks.
3.6 of the handbook reads"Each semester shall have a maximum of nineteen (19)weeks consisting of not less than fifteen (15)weeks of lectures.
"The remaining part of the semester shall be used for revision and examination".
Speaking with Press Club MAPOLY,Ayomide Adelaja an HND student of Pharmaceutical Technology noted that the calendar is too long.
He stated that the long duration will affect the second semester calendar which he said will be short.
"It’s actually not fair though,
It’s too long,how many weeks are we going to use for second semester like this."
Blessing Idowu,an ND student of Mass Communication expressed her displeasure at the new calendar.
She says having the first semester for six- month will affect the second semester calendar adversely.
Blessing urged the management to adjust the calendar.
"I feel it is rather too long for just a semester,they should really try to do some adjustment,it Is unfair"
Another student identified as Mariam also called on the school management to review the calendar describing the number of weeks to be used as saddening.
"I think we should plead with the school authority to change this,it is really saddening with how many weeks we are now going to use for second semester."
Another student says"this is totally uncalled for,22weeks some schools are using per section,we are going to use for just a semester.
However,some other students who also spoke with Press Club MAPOLY commended the management for the new calendar.
Juwaratu Jimoh, an ND2 accountancy student lauded the efforts of the management in releasing the calendar.
She stated that the new calendar will avail the students the opportunity to concentrate and be well prepared ahead of their exams.
According to her,the calendar will give students the opportunity to complete their registration and study hard.
"I think it’s a great opportunity for serious students"she said
Wasiu Salami,a Business Administration Student told PCM the calendar is okay saying it will allow lecturers complete the course outline.
He urged students to pray for the exam to start on the date written on the calendar.
"The calendar for me is okay we should just pray the exam start when it ought to start"
Azeezat Adetunji,HND1 student of Mass Communication stated that the calendar will give the students especially those on SIWES enough time and opportunity to study well.
Azeezat praised the management decision on the calendar
adding that the calendar was planned well and should not trigger negative reactions from the students.
First semester calendar is always longer-MAPOLY PRO
The Head Public Relations and Protocol of the Polytechnic,Mr. Yemi Ajibola when contacted by Press Club MAPOLY stated that the first semester of the academic calendar is usually longer than the second semester.
Ajibola said this is because most students do not resume to school on time to complete their registrations for first semester.
"First semester is always like that and second semester is always very short.
"Many students do not come on time to school,many do not finish their registrations on time in the first semester".
He said"They have not started arrangements for orientation.
"Matriculation is still there and convocation is likely to come in,the more reason the calendar has to be long"
Ajibola also disclosed that students who had gone on Industrial Work Experience Scheme(SIWES) must have 8 weeks lecturers before the commencement of the examination.
"Those that went on SIWES must have 8 weeks contact with their lecturers for lectures before the examination,that is the more reason first semester has to be long"he said
