JUSTR IN: UG Students proposed 70% for Grade A using E-Learning Platform

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Ghana, Legon, acting on behalf of all students has submitted a proposal to the management of the university for a possible review of the grading system for the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year.

“After thoughtful consideration and extensive consultation coupled with data collected from the students concerning their experience with this new system of teaching and learning, it was prudent for a corresponding adjustment to the current grading system,” a statement signed by SRC President Isaac Agyeman said.

The student body said they have thoughtfully considered and consulted students concerning their experience since the adoption of e-learning platforms for teaching and learning as a result of the closure of schools amidst coronavirus pandemic.

Currently, the University uses a grading system where 80 per cent to 100 per cent amount to an ‘A’ with 75 per cent to 79 per cent and 70 per cent to 74 per cent amounting to ‘B+’ and ‘B’ respectively.

But the SRC is proposing that grade ‘A’ should be pegged at 70 per cent mark.

According to them, this is a necessary change due to the many challenges students face in accessing and using the online platform for their school exercises.

Among these challenges include the non-availability of internet services in some parts of the country and some students’ lack of laptops, coupled with other disabilities had already disadvantaged a significant number of students.

“Generally, quizzes conducted during this period are short time-bound, which ordinarily would not have been so should we be in school.

“Unstable network and disruptions on the SAKAI LMS platform interfere sometimes and even if it affects 1% of the student population, it’s still going to have a toll on that section of students,” this they say would affect the academic performance of these individuals negatively.

The SRC also stated that the multiple assignments given to students with very limited time for submission had left no ample time for students to adequately study in preparation for the upcoming exams.

“Every single week students have multiple assignments which give them very little time to study. They only read to answer the assignments in most cases. There’s, therefore, the tendency that  should the end of the semester be time-bound quizzes, which we believe most would, some will be unfavoured  in that regard.”

In addition, they shared their concerns about some lecturers deviating from the university management’s earlier laid-out plan for exams.

According to the SRC, management had made it clear that exams will be take-home tests, however, some lecturers had started notifying students of their intention to use “real online tools” to conduct exams instead.

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They are therefore calling on management to “ensure all lecturers abide by the agreed modality for examinations,” and that lecturers, be strictly advised not to use only time-bound quizzes in their continuous assessments for students as the platform has proven to be unresponsive when there’s a lot of traffic on the site.

Furthermore, the SRC stated that due to the inconvenient conditions some students may face at home, the newly adopted exam’s structure may not be fair to these students.

The SRC indicated that they are waiting upon the swift response of the school’s management to put everything in order for a smooth and fair online examination experience for students.

Below is the proposed grading system for the second semester:

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Ellis Ferdinand
Ellis Ferdinand is a Journalist, Blogger and Founder of Ellis Multimedia, a parent company of EducationGhana.org, an Online Education News Blog, PoliticsGhana.com and GhanaNaija.net.Ellis Ferdinand is a Graduate of Accra College of Education and the University of Cape Coast, where he obtained a Diploma In Basic Education and a Bachelor of Education in Accounting. He is currently Reading his Master of Philosophy in Curriculum and Pedagogic Studies at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana.Ellis Ferdinand won Blogger of the Year at the 2018 National Students’ Awards and was also adjudged 14th Best Ghanain Blogger in 2018 among the Top 50 Ghanaian Bloggers of 2018.He introduced the Concept of Education Blogging in Ghana in 2014 with his famous blog EducationGhana.net. now EducationGhana.orgHis Blog won Best Media Promoting Education in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively, an Award organized by Neogenics Education Consult.In 2019, He adjudged the Most Promising West African Blogger of the Year in Nigeria. He won Writer of the Year at the 2021 EDUCOM AWARDS

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