While the season of graduations is still upon us, I feel it is time to reflect on issues affecting students’ success rates at higher education institutions. It is envisaged that the advice provided in this article will assist tertiary students who find themselves struggling with completing their studies. The advice is also for those who are planning to embark on their tertiary studies.
Studies have shown that higher education institutions in Africa have been experiencing the problem of low student first-time completion rates for some time now. What this means is that the number of students who graduate within the stipulated number of years for studying programmes is low. In other words, if it takes four years to complete a degree programme, only a few students manage to take four years to complete that programme. The majority will take five, six or seven years to complete the same degree programme, depending on the number of extra years allowed for the programme. Some will exhaust all the chances given by universities, and end up dropping out of their studies.
We have witnessed universities graduating thousands of students every year. The huge numbers of graduates at a given graduation ceremony give us a false picture of the student success rates. If we were to analyse the time spent by most graduating students to complete their qualifications, we would find that few students completed their qualifications within the stipulated time. The key term is ‘within the stipulated time’.
Although many factors affect students’ success rates during their years of studying, I want to focus on what has been termed student factors. I am convinced that if students address student factors that negatively affect their studies, the other factors will not have debilitating effects.
From the first year of registration onwards, students should know that graduating from a university or college is not serendipitous; it is not a question of chance or luck. In other words, academic achievement is not a matter of coincidence. Once students know this from the onset, they should systematically plan their studies with a focus on graduation at the end of the stipulated periods of their studies. Experience has shown that most students take months, if not a year, to realise that they have to work hard to earn a qualification. It is often too late to make amends when they realise their mistakes.
Non-attendance of classes, whether face-to-face or online classes, not submitting assignments and general negligence, have left many students in the doldrums. Such students often find it difficult to wiggle through the woods and focus on their studies, and complete them within time.
It is not an exaggeration to say that many students are victims of procrastination in their academic activities. Those who coined the proverb procrastination is the thief of time had experienced the consequences of not taking action in good time.
On the other hand, students who set measurable objectives and goals for themselves with definite timelines for the completion of academic tasks succeed in their studies. This calls for self-discipline, a positive attitude, and passion for academic work and one’s area of study. Self-motivation and commitment also play a significant role in completing one’s studies within the stipulated time. Although the ability to work independently is a huge attribute for students at tertiary level, study and discussion groups assist students in sharing ideas and developing their critical thinking skills.
In this age of digitalisation and artificial intelligence, being technologically-savvy is a must to succeed at tertiary level. This technological knowledge will enable students to use e-resources appropriately, and produce academic work of high quality.
Students who vehemently resist and manage peer pressure often have more time to spend on their studies. Chances of completing their studies on time are higher than those who spend most of their time engaging in illicit activities like drug abuse.
Importantly, students who create ethical and healthy student-lecturer relationships with all lecturers benefit more than students who are confrontational to lecturers, sometimes for no apparent reason. It is foolhardy for students to be antagonistic to lecturers, just to prove to fellow students that one can challenge a lecturer. This bad attitude has disastrous consequences for the errant students.
Above all, students who develop a scholarly culture from the beginning of their studies are most likely to finish their studies within the stipulated time. It is important for students to always keep in mind that qualifications are earned; obtaining them is not a matter of serendipity.
Professor Jairos Kangira is a professor of English at the University of Namibia. Email: kjairos@gmail.com