The management of Benue State University has shut down the institution over students’ protests on the varsity’s new Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) grading.
In a statement on Monday by the varsity’s registrar, Dr Mfaga Modom, the university said that the closure was necessary to avoid breakdown of law and order in and around the campus.It asked students to vacate the campus latest 4 pm.
The students had begun protesting the new five point grading system early Monday.
They blocked the two gates of the university located along the busy Makurdi/Gboko Highway.
The students want to school to revert to the old practice of calculating CGPA.
Some students alleged that the policy was meant to victimise brilliant students who are not in the good books of their lecturers.
The registrar, however, said the university was following a directive by the National Universities Commission by reverting to the 5-Point Grading System with effect from the 2018/2019 academic session.
Modom said: “In the interim, the University Management met the students and informed them of the efforts of the Senate and appealed for their patience to enable the committee to complete the assignment.“Management also, through the Dean of Students issued a circular informing the students of its efforts.“The closure of the University gates by students on account of this issue is therefore unwarranted. Management wishes to reiterate that it can only consider their appeal when the report of the Senate Committee is received.“Management, therefore, appeals to students to be law-abiding and respect constituted authority, policies and properties of the University and allow due process to prevail.”
