Over 500 students to miss graduation over exam hitch

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology student leader Vincent Lumala (centre), with other officials at the institution. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

At least 500 students of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (Mmust) are likely not to graduate this year.

These include students who did not sit special or supplementary examinations after the institution was closed indefinitely following student unrest.

Continuing students, who did not sit their examinations prior to the closure, have also been barred from proceeding to the next class at the end of this academic year.

Special exams

“In absolute adherence to the Mmust Examinations Policy Act (EPA265H), only students who have satisfied the examinations board are allowed to proceed to the next class at the end of every academic year,” read a memo authored by Thomas Sakwa, the acting academics registrar.

The memo further read: “This is to inform students who may have failed to sit their special or supplementary exams before joining the next class that they will not be allowed to sit the special or supplementary examinations scheduled to start on Monday (today) as per the released timetables.”

Prof Sakwa, in the memo, stated that the affected students should apply for course retakes in the next academic year, in line with the provisions in the examinations policy. The memo was addressed to deans of schools.

According to the institution’s student leader Vincent Lumala Simiyu, the university management is making decisions without consulting all stakeholders concerned with the welfare of the students, saying they will move to court to overturn the decision.

Lumala said more than 120 students taking physics and chemistry, who are the majority of those likely to miss graduation, have registered with him.

“We are asking the management to be humane to the students. The rules they are imposing on us aren’t helpful. We want dialogue on how we can solve this matter,” he said.

Repeat classes

Lumala said over 1,500 students, in second and third year of study, are also likely to repeat classes if the directive is fully implemented.

Meanwhile, the University Management has also suspended 19 student leaders, who are alleged to have organised a students’ strike, three weeks ago, leading to the institution’s closure.

According to the management, the students have been suspended for causing unnecessary tension among students.

The suspension letters were sent to them on Saturday.

“Pursuant to Section 2.1 (b) and (c) of the Mmust rules and regulations governing the conduct and discipline of students, the 81st regular senate meeting sitting on October 2, resolved to suspend you...,” read part of the suspension letter.