UCC TO Review Grading System

THE new grading system of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), which has been the source of controversy, is to be reviewed.

The Governing Council of the UCC made the recommendation to the Academic Board of the University after a meeting the council had with the university authorities and representatives of the students leadership at Cape Coast last Friday.

Dr Charles Mensa, chairman of the Council, disclosed this in an interview in Accra yesterday.

He said the council members agreed on the need to review the grading system to set minds at ease on the campus and create the peaceful environment for teaching, learning and research.

The grading system created tension at the university, resulting in a subsequent demonstration by students, which disrupted the congregation on March 31, 2001.

Dr Mensa explained that the Council and the Academic Board agreed generally on the need for a review of certain policies that have pitted the students against the university authorities.

Consequently, the council has called on the academic board to also review the punishment meted out to nine students of the university.

Dr Mensa said the council was of the view that the students deserve some form of punishment because of the embarrassment and public ridicule into which they brought the university.

He said the council, in calling for the review, has decided to tamper justice with mercy, in order to restore calm and order on the campus and strengthen the esprit de corps between the university administration and students.

On the review of sanctions imposed on the students, he said the council reached a definite decision on the review, but will make it public after it has been ratified by the Academic Board.

Dr Mensa said the university authorities, in reaching this decision, have not abandoned the due process. However, in invoking the rules of the university, the academic board has been asked to hasten slowly.

He noted that the academic board understands the problem and is willing to consider the recommendations of the council.

According to him, he will meet officials of the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the leadership of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) today to discuss the review of the punishment and the grading system.

He commended the Students Representative Council (SRC) of the university for co-operating with the council to resolve the problems the university is facing .

The Minister of Education, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, last Wednesday requested the Governing Council of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to meet last Friday to deliberate on the disciplinary action taken against some students of the university.

He also asked the council to look into the issues raised against the new grading system.

The minister will hold a follow-up meeting with the Chairman, the Vice- Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor and the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) today ( Monday), to deliberate on the current situation on the UCC campus.