500 students to miss graduation over exams

Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology student leader Vincent Lumala (center) with other leaders. [Benjamin Sakwa]

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

That number includes 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.

“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 exams 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 (pictured), the management is making decisions without consulting all stakeholders, saying they will move to court to overturn the decision. Over 1,500 students are likely to repeat classes if the directive is implemented.