Why Students Carry Over Courses In Nigerian Universities

Carry Over, if asked to be defined by a layman, would be said to be the act of holding or supporting a rigid body over a surface or simply the act of propelling or giving impetus to something. But ask a Nigerian student, the first meaning of carry over that comes to his innocent mind is that “‘carry-over’ is similar to ‘failure’ in Nigerian polytechnics and universities. It’s the act of re-taking a failed course or subject in the next or another subsequent semester.” So, to ‘carry over’ a course, means to re-take the same course some other time. The reasons of which we are going to consider in this write-up. So, sit back, take a chill pill, lessen your grasp on the worry of the content of the post and read along some of the reasons Why Students Carry Over Courses In Nigerian Universities And Polytehnics.

• EXCESSIVE CHILLING WITH FRIENDS AND HANGING OUTS
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Say me hi to the social fanatics, shoutout to the party freaks and all hands in the air for those who are always around friends day in day out. Before you start throwing onine stones at me, I didn’t in any way say you should not chill with your friends, but there is time for everything. The paragraph you could have read, instead of laughing out loud in a friend’s place or holding a girl’s waist in a departmental party, might have gotten you out of failure and saved you from carrying over the course.

• LECTURER’S VICTIMIZATION
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Our students are not that poor in terms of academics! No! I refuse to believe! Then, how come they still carry over courses? Actually, some lecturers are just deliberately wicked. They derive joy in failing students. And perhaps, our lecturers brag with “Who has the highest number of carry-overs in the course he/she is taking” when their meeting comes up. Some lecturers also fail endowed female students who disagreed to yield to their sexual wishes, let’s stop it there.

• NOT PREPARING WELL FOR EXAMS
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If you do not read, do not expect miracles. Well miracles happen at times, you might try it if you think you are the lucky type. I won’t advise it though. Therefore, learn how to prepare for exams.

• NOT STUDYING PAST QUESTIONS
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This is the best bet when it comes to preparation for exams, it might save you a whole lots of time reading a very huge textbook aimlessly, thereby going off point by covering a syllabus you wouldn’t even need in 10years time. That’s why you see some really brilliant students still carrying over courses, they read all day, off topic, not knowing what could probably be set in the exams. Trust, Past questions help.

• NOT ATTENDING LECTURES
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Students whoevade or probably avoid classes are more exposed to carrying over courses. The reason behind this is not so far-fetched and mind-numbingly obvious. Although some lecturers teach directly from PowerPoint and find a means to get the slides within the reach of the students. This makes it tempting for students to skip class, they just download the lecture slides, and learn the materials on their own. You might probably get away with this in easy courses, you’ll face problems in challenging ones. By skipping class, you miss out on a few important things:
Detailed oral explanations from the lecturer which are keys to understanding the material
The chance to ask questions and listen to the questions of other students and the answers
Announcements and assignments
Opportunities for extra marks e.g Attendance
It sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s too important to not mention. Skipping class can make you look bad in the eyes of your lecturer especially if it’s a small class and the lecturer knows most of his students. Since grades are somewhat subjective, it’s a good idea to avoid irritating the person who will be handing out the marks. Mind you, that 10marks you could have probably gotten from your attendance could shoot you from an F to an Escape grade.

• HEALTH CONDITIONS
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If you have ever experienced a severe case of malaria during the exam or test period then you should know what I’m talking about. You are not expected to write something reasonable inside that question paper while you are feeling so cold and shaky as an effect of a sickness.

• SPIRITUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
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Those who do not know or probably do not want to succumb to the cause of their carry over will nod aggressively in approval to this like “YES! Some witches are following me, that’s why I failed!“. Well, probably true, that’s why in every thing you do, you involve your God.