UNICAL ORDERS STUDENTS TO CHANGE PROGRAMMES OVER ADMISSION QUOTA CRISIS

UNICAL ORDERS STUDENTS TO CHANGE PROGRAMMES OVER ADMISSION QUOTA CRISIS

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has directed a large number of students in medical-related courses to either withdraw or change their programmes, following an admission quota crisis that has hit the institution.

The development affects students in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Dentistry, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and other allied health programmes. Reports indicate that even students with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 and above have been instructed to change programmes under the new directives.

According to information gathered, the institution has introduced strict retention criteria for students in the affected courses. These include:

Minimum CGPA Rule: First-year MBBS students must attain at least a 3.5 CGPA to remain in the programme. Those who fall below 3.0 are automatically advised to change programmes.
No Failed Courses: Any student with an “F” grade in any course, regardless of overall CGPA, is screened out of the programme.
Single O’Level Sitting Requirement: Students with more than one O’Level sitting are disqualified from continuing in the medical courses.
Unapproved Course Changes: Students who initially gained admission into other departments but later switched into Medicine, Nursing, or related fields without proper clearance are being reverted or transferred to other programmes.
Forgery and Irregularities: Any student found guilty of using falsified documents faces outright expulsion.
As part of the new enforcement, some affected students are already receiving official result slips marked with the directive: “CHANGE PROGRAMME (because CGPA is less than 3.0).” Others with otherwise strong GPAs have been screened out simply for recording a single “F” in their first-year courses.

The alternative departments being offered to affected students include Anatomy, Physiotherapy, Microbiology, and other related science programmes.

This decision has triggered widespread anxiety and distress among students, many of whom have invested significant time, money, and effort into pursuing their medical careers at the university. While management insists the measures are in line with quota regulations and professional standards set by regulatory bodies, students have continued to call for a fairer and more compassionate review of the policy.