WINDHOEK – Students in the economics faculty at the University of Namibia (Unam) are crying foul after it was decided they have to redo a semester module following the suspected leaking of exam papers for human resource management during June/July this year.
Unam public relations officer John Haufiku said that a verdict issued by the director for academic affairs, Professor Erica Maas, had decided that all students would sit for the module for the second time irrespective of whether or not they had qualified to sit for exams last semester.
This decision, for which students will not pay any more money, gives a second opportunity to those who did not qualify for exams for the module last semester.
Haufiku said the university had taken due consideration to ensure that inconvenience to students is minimised. “However, an extra load and some inconvenience are expected, and have been planned for in consultation with students and the department concerned,” he told New Era.
With regard to minimising workload on affected students, Haufiku said: “The exam [for this subject] will be written later than other exams to ensure sufficient time for students and by implication to avoid stress. Assignments, tests and presentations will be scheduled with extra due concern for students’ other classes and commitments and the same will apply to their research papers.”
With regard to the suspension of human resource management lecturer Josephine Haubas who was suspended after the students boycotted the exam saying it did not cover the curriculum they were taught, Haufiku said investigations were still underway.
In fact, said Haufiku, investigations were in the final stages of unearthing the issue and were only delayed by lack of cooperation from some witnesses.
Asked about what action could be taken against the lecturer, Haufiku said this would depend on the final outcome of the probe.