When First Class was a rare honour

By Harold Ayodo

Scholars say two decades ago, it was an exceptional achievement to graduate with First Class Honours degree.

When Prof Gilbert Ogutu graduated 36 years ago, getting First Class Honours was the preserve of geniuses.

Getting 70 per cent, the cut-off mark for the honour, was almost impossible.

"Students burnt the midnight oil from the start of the academic year to the end to make it to the Deans List," he says.

The chairman of Professors of Peace Academy – East Africa says institutions of higher education were more accountable and had high standards.

Great Lakes University of Kisumu Vice-Chancellor, Dan Kaseje, who graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1975 concurs with Ogutu. "When I was a medical student, we were graded by external examiners not faculty."

Competitive

Prof Kaseje says obtaining First Class Honours degree in courses like law, engineering and architecture was a dream. "Most students were happy with a pass," he says.

Another UoN alumni linguist Owino Rew, recalls that only one students got a First Class in the Faculty of Arts when he graduated in 1981.

"I cannot remember his name but the was a role model to many," he says. That year only 27 graduates, a record then, were awarded First Class Honours.

The scholars say the elusive honour encouraged competition and work hard.

"We read voluminous books, engaged lecturers and formed discussion groups and engaged in search of top marks," says Ogutu.

But what do the scholars think about the high number of First Class degrees awarded now? Many support the proposal by the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) that local varsities raise cut-off points for a First Class from 70 to 75 per cent.

Quality

But Ogutu says the increase is not an indictment of the quality of university education.

"Uganda and Tanzania should reduce their cut-off from 80 to 75 per cent to harmonise university grading system in the region," he says.

"Eligible scholars chair and sit on the examination boards of public universities and the standards they set cannot be at the expense of quality," says Prof Rew.

Kaseje says several factors could be behind the upsurge of First Class degrees. "University examinations have not become easy but students today access a lot of study materials," he says.

A Research and Methodology lecturer at UoN School of Journalism Kamau Mubuu, says the Internet is a superfluous source of reading material.

"Students no longer access reading material physically in libraries but use the internet, which has a lot of information," he says.

Kaseje says better learning opportunities and availability of resources have worked to the advantage of students.

"More organised students will still obtain the top grade even when the grades are increased," he says.