Mixed Reactions Trail Danfodiyo Varsity’s New Calendar

Danfodiyo varsity students have reacted to the newly released 2019/2020 academic calendar released by the management of the institution.

The calendar, which was released on the 27th of November 2019, proscribed 11 months for academic activities, different from the usual 8 months.

While some students have lauded the release of this calendar, other students see it as an academic discouragement and a deviation from the norm established by the institution’s immediate former vice-chancellor.

CAMPUS REPORTER has gathered a few reactions from students at the university, below: 

Abdullah Amyn, a final year law student said the calendar will draw the university’s progress back and will restrict the university from keeping up with other competitive institutions in the country.

According to him, the management failed to consider the state’s weather as well as the current levels of poverty permeating the country.

“Honestly, the recently released university calendar took us aback. Other competitive universities run three semesters per annum. Yet with the release of the present calendar, it will definitely be impossible. Considering the duration of each semester in the calendar, the first semester lectures, which [will start] on the 27th of January 2020 and end on the 22nd of may 2020, making it five months in [total], is some worth something to be put into consideration, having in mind both the climate condition of the region and most importantly the economic and financial status of the country, because as students our major sources of sustenance in school are our parents,” he explained.

Adegbite Taoheed, a 400 level student of Literature-in-English also expressed his dissatisfaction with the new calendar. He opined that the school management was not thinking of students while they prepared the calendar.

“To me, personally, the new calendar is not in the interest of the students. Though I’m not saying this kind of calendar is new to UDUS – but I think that should be [a thing of the past] and we shouldn’t be retrogressive. Professor Zuru will forever be remembered ordinarily for considering the plight of the students in the [preparation of the] calendar,” he noted.

Speaking about the university’s adherence to the National Universities Commission’s directives on the 15-week minimum set for academic lectures, Taoheed said: “No one is saying the school shouldn’t adhere to the NUC directive, but I’m very sure former VC was not above such directive, likewise Unilorin, much less KWASU. But ours is to pray, not to prey, but I think the plight of most students now is on the extended duration of holidays in that calendar. We don’t need it. At all. Weeks for lectures should be as it was.”

Adebowale Sofiat, a 400 level student of Accounting also reacted the same way.

“The calendar is very bad because we will be using a complete year for a session. The school management did not even take the financial status of students into consideration,” she lamented.

For Abdulrazak Olashina, a 300 level student of Biochemistry, the school management has derailed from the established path laid by former Vice-Chancellor Professor A. A. Zuru. 

“The calendar is [rubbish], six months for a semester for what reason? They should be considerate and emulate Baba Zuru.”

However, while many students agitate for amendment, this reporter gathered that a few students have commended the efforts of the management in releasing this calendar.

A 300 level Education Mathematics student, Adeleke Abdulrahman, sees no wrong in it. 

According to him, this calendar will help in ensuring that students are learning properly and have enough time to digest the material they are given.

“The calendar is not bad. The management did [very] well by adding 3 months to the calendar and that’s the best way through which students can understand what they are been taught in class,” he explained.

Olookoba Abdulwasiu, a 300 level Law student praised the university’s decision on the calendar. According to him, the calendar was planned well and it should not trigger negative reactions from students.