Malawi University of Science and Technology’s inaugural graduation of Open, Distance and e-Learning students has been marred by controversy. Multiple graduates have come forward claiming injustices in the awarding of their degree classifications.
According to the university’s Senate rules and regulations, students are only entitled to graduate with credit if they achieve at least a 65 percent average at Level 3, or at least 60 percent at Level 2. However, numerous students who failed to meet these minimum academic requirements were awarded credit-level degrees, while others who should have qualified for credit graduated with a mere pass instead.
One graduate, who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Language, Communication and Culture, reported that the problem was particularly acute for students with carryover modules. Speaking on condition of anonymity, she stated that her grades, and those of fellow students in similar positions, did not appear to have been processed correctly against the university’s own regulatory standards.
A university official attributed the chaos to the institution’s grading software, suggesting that the issue stemmed from either a systemic flaw or widespread human error. The official stated that the university uses the SARIS system, which has “serious operational problems” and that grades entered at the departmental level frequently do not match grades generated by the system.
Separate allegations have also emerged that some female students received inflated grades in exchange for sexual favors with members of staff. These claims, if substantiated, would represent a serious scandal.
The university’s Registry Assistant, who is responsible for managing all grade processing for the ODeL program, is said to be severely overworked. Despite being described as highly competent, the officer’s workload appears to have compounded the errors plaguing the graduating cohort.
The revelations have raised serious questions over the credibility of the university’s inaugural ODeL graduation, leaving affected students uncertain whether their qualifications accurately reflect their actual academic performance.
Article source: allafrica.com | Image credit: Nyasa Times
