By IndyPress News Desk

Following the commencement of the 2025/2026 second-semester test week, some students of the Faculty of Pharmacy were reportedly prevented from sitting their tests after failing to meet the faculty’s 75 per cent attendance requirement.

Information obtained by IndyPress indicates that students whose attendance records fell below the required threshold were not permitted to sit for some of their tests.

Speaking with IndyPress, an affected student, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, said he was unable to sit for the PCH 202 test after recording about 70 per cent attendance.

According to him, he missed two classes because a lecturer allegedly locked the classroom door shortly after entering, preventing latecomers from joining the class.

He also identified the process of obtaining medical documentation as another challenge affecting students’ ability to meet the attendance requirement.

“One factor which contributes to not meeting the 75% attendance is lecturers locking the door immediately after they enter and also the disregard and rigidity of always presenting a medical report from Jaja that takes time to process sometimes, but they just won’t hear us,” he said.

The student also questioned whether preventing students from sitting for tests would address the academic challenges the faculty was seeking to tackle.

“Apparently, they enforced this rule because they noticed that people are failing. And how does denying them access to the examination hall solve the problem?” he asked.

While this may be a single occurrence, it did not start today. According to the information gathered, similar situation has once based on discretion of the department conducting the test.

He further criticised what he described as the quality of some lectures, saying this could discourage students from attending classes.

“The system is just too complicated and rigid,” he added.

Another pharmacy student who was also prevented from sitting for the PCH 202 test identified late entry restrictions as a factor affecting students’ attendance records.

According to the student, lecturers sometimes deny students access to classes only a few minutes after the scheduled start time, making it difficult for some students to meet the attendance requirement.

A 200-level pharmacy student, who was also affected by the implementation of the 75% attendance

He said three of the classes he missed were taught by a lecturer who, according to him, would not allow students into the class after she had entered.

“My own issue was that I was unable to meet the eligibility of 75% attendance due to the fact that three of the classes I missed out of probably seven were by a lecturer in which if she enters the class before anyone else, she won’t allow any student coming after to sit for the class anymore,” he said.

He also raised concerns about how attendance is recorded in some courses, alleging that students sometimes sign attendance sheets on behalf of their colleagues.

“Some people write for themselves, for their friends, and most times we write on sheets of paper and I don’t think the sheet of paper is safe,” he said.

“I believe there is a system used in monitoring the attendance, but I believe it is not properly monitored,” he added.

Another pharmacy student told IndyPress that circumstances beyond students’ control could also affect attendance.

“Sometimes students stay off campus and sometimes when they come, lecturers won’t be around, so this makes them lose interest in coming for those classes. Meanwhile, anytime they come late but the lecturer is available, they won’t be allowed to enter the class after the lecturer enters,” the student said.

The student added that repeated postponement of classes could also discourage attendance.

“So when students come by 8 AM and lecturers postpone the classes, it is discouraging,” he added.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Faculty of Pharmacy President and the Student Union President, Adeboye Temidayo were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report as they both refuse to give a comment on the matter when contacted rather were evasive in their responses.

“I don’t have a comment to give, unless you tell me what the faculty president said,” Deboye said.

IndyPress also sought clarification on the attendance requirement and its implementation from relevant Sub-dean authorities. Their response was not available as of publication.