Fresh students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have raised concerns about poorly coordinated Computer Based Test examinations that stretched late into the night, raising serious questions about student welfare, academic performance, and institutional preparedness during the ongoing Harmattan semester examinations.
A freshman from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology recounted arriving at the venue shortly after 3:00 pm, only to discover that earlier batches had not even commenced their examinations, creating a ripple effect that delayed subsequent sessions into the night.
The widely taken SOC 101 (Introduction to Sociology) course, which many 100 level students across faculties were scheduled to write at approximately 4:00 pm, reportedly did not commence until around 7:00 pm at the university's ICT centres due to multiple disruptions, including prolonged power outages and scheduling inconsistencies.
Another student from the Department of Economics expressed frustration over the situation, revealing that candidates had to wait through multiple sessions before gaining access to the exam hall, leaving many physically drained before their tests even began.
The situation was further complicated for Muslim students observing Ramadan, as well as some Christian students observing Lent, who found it difficult to break their fasts or observe prayers due to the uncertainty and restrictions around movement during the examination period.
One Muslim student explained that the lack of nearby food vendors and the inability to leave the ICT environment made it nearly impossible to break fast at the appropriate time, describing the experience as both physically and emotionally stressful.
Other students reported completing their examinations as late as 8:00 pm and beyond, with many still waiting in queues at the time, raising concerns about safety, concentration levels, and overall performance under such conditions.
Investigations revealed that this is not an isolated incident, as previous reports indicated that students had earlier resorted to using phone flashlights and natural lighting during examinations due to power failures.
The Students' Union leadership has come under criticism for what many students describe as silence on the issue, especially after earlier declaring a state of emergency on CBT examinations and securing a one month extension for freshmen.
Students are calling on the university management and union leaders to urgently address the systemic issues affecting CBT examinations, improve scheduling and infrastructure, and ensure that future examinations are conducted in a manner that protects both academic integrity and student welfare.
