NOUN VC speaks on students’ complaints over technical glitches

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has assured the students of the institution that the management is working hard to resolve all their concerns on exams, course materials, technical glitches with the university portal and others. Prof Peters gave the assurance in a virtual town hall meeting held […]

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Olufemi Peters, has assured the students of the institution that the management is working hard to resolve all their concerns on exams, course materials, technical glitches with the university portal and others.

Prof Peters gave the assurance in a virtual town hall meeting held with the students of the university, a statement signed by NOUN Director, Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Sheme, said.

According to the statement, the innovative meeting, which was called to address a broad range of students’ concerns, highlighted the NOUN management’s efforts to improve examination systems, course material distribution and refund processes.

The vice-chancellor emphasised the university’s commitment to resolving key issues raised by the students and ensuring a smoother academic experience.

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One of the primary concerns discussed was the challenge students faced with Computer-Based Tests (CBT) due to inadequate guidance and a lack of familiarity with exam procedures.

The vice-chancellor advised the students to pay close attention to exam instructions and reiterated the importance of adhering to the guidelines presented in question papers.

He acknowledged the challenges with CBT but assured them that improvements were underway, particularly with transitioning course materials.

Peters said: “We understand the frustrations some of you face due to the use of outdated course materials during exams. This is a result of the three-year cycle we use for reviewing the question bank. The solution is not lost, and we will make the necessary adjustments,” he said.

The VC revealed that the university had detected attempts to compromise the integrity of the university’s TMA platform.

“The attempted breach included the use of automated systems to generate responses, third-party participation in assignments, and other irregular activities that undermined the examination process,” he said.

“The University Senate’s initial response was to cancel all TMA scores of the affected students. However, rather than awarding them zero marks,it was decided to adjust their examination scores, allowing students to be graded out of 100 instead of the usual 70 or 60,” the VC added.

He stated that the university remained committed to upholding the integrity of its academic processes, adding, “We will take similar decisive actions if necessary, as it is vital to protect the integrity of our academic certificates and the reputation of the institution.”