By Aja Beyai
Students at the University of The Gambia (UTG) are experiencing uncertainty regarding their upcoming exams, originally scheduled for December 9, 2024.
This situation arises from the ongoing strike by the University of The Gambia Faculty and Staff Association (UTGFSA). Given these challenges, the Students’ Union (UTGSU) has launched a survey to gather student opinions on potentially postponing the exams to January 6, 2025.
In an exclusive interview, UTGSU President Nyanika Manjang highlighted concerns over recent issues within the UTG community, such as the dismissal of two lecturers from the School of Business and Public Administration and student demonstrations.
According to Manjang, these events could significantly impact students’ readiness for the exams and their mental well-being.
“Out of immense care for the welfare and concerns of our students, the Union, together with our taskforce of sub-association leaders, found it necessary to seek the students’ opinions regarding their readiness to sit for exams on Monday,” Manjang explained.
The deadline for students to participate in the survey is December 6, 2024, at 19:00. The UTGSU has reported a strong response to the survey so far. Manjang emphasized that deciding to postpone the exams would reflect most students’ opinions.
While postponement could give students more time to alleviate stress and prepare, potential adjustments in the academic calendar might also affect the timing of collecting attestations for graduating students.
The task force says it is committed to ensuring that the administration considers and addresses student concerns based on the survey results.
Once data collection and analysis are complete, the UTGSU plans to communicate the findings and their position to the student body.
