Authorities at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) are meeting to discuss its re-opening plans.

This follows the easing of Covid-19 restrictions to enable educational institutions to re-open for final year students on June 15.

KNUST has already allowed some final year students to write long essays in lieu of project works, with May 31, 2020 as the deadline for all submissions to be followed by assessment.

The Academic Board of the university at an emergency meeting on May 4, 2020, approved a set of measures by the executive committee for the assessment of students for the second semester, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government had then asked educational institutions to continue the academic year on-line.

The university, therefore, agreed that students should be assessed for the End of Semester Examinations based on the average score of three to five on-line written assignment per course as determined by the peculiarity of the course or programme.

During the period, there were concerns that the online education will not be beneficial to a good number of students who live in areas where access to internet is a challenge.

So for students in remote areas who may not have access to internet, the Academic Board agreed that they should submit their assignments through their District Education Offices, for collection.

Practical Work

“Laboratory and practical work undertaken in the course of the Semester, as well as quizzes could be factored into the final marks for the semester. Theory of Practical should be considered in lieu of practical work, where necessary,” the university said.

It added that the Faculty of Art and the Department of Architecture, could arrange for art exhibitions and studio work sessions respectively, to assess student’s practical work.

It said sessions must be limited to a minimum of between five to 10 students on each occasions.

“Examiners are to note that, assessment for the End of Semester Examinations in all cases must be completed by the end of June,” the communication stated.

Assessment of Thesis

The communication also directed that undergraduate students in science-based programs who have collected sufficient data for their project work should submit their work for assessment.

Students without data were given the option to write a long essay in lieu of project work.

For the Postgraduate students, completed thesis should be submitted by the student to the supervisor online, whiles Thesis defence or oral examination for MPhil and PhD candidates would be conducted using Zoom technology.