Almost all University of Ghana students would agree that one of the most popular expressions on campus is the ‘guy’ we call G.P.A. Many a times and especially at the birth of the semester, one would hear roommates, friends and colleagues attacking the unfriendly grading system.
It would interest you to know that some students’ MIS WEBs have found their way into the list of their worst enemies, and some students are sprayed with an aura of hopelessness anytime they see their grades. Putting facts right without contempt or mockery of any form, an increase in the G.P.A has become a regular prayer topic for SOME prayer fanatics. That ‘guy’ would have been murdered long ago if it were human, and Holy ghost fire would have burnt it into ashes if it were an evil spirit, but it is neither of them.
Students have raised many concerns since the grading system changed from 70% to 80% for an A. With this change, many students wished they came to Legon in those ‘prosperous’ days when one scores an A+ for getting 70% and an A- for getting 65-69%. Those were the good old days; Aryeetey’s Legon is different. Today, one of the most nervous moments in some students’ campus life is those moments when their transcript is loading on the MIS WEB.
Though the Kombat led SRC administration did their best to advocate for a reduction from 3.75 for a first class to 3.6, the grading scheme is full of injustice and an enemy of the average student. We as students look forward to that day when something would be done about the grading and class system. A number of potential student leaders who are very competent have had their visions cut short by their G.P.A, as if having a good G.P.A is a guarantee that one would be a good leader. Good leadership goes beyond academic excellence.Let’s get things straight here, in the first place who says the CG.P.A determines who is brilliant and who is not?
The fact that one might have a CGPA that is not very encouraging is not proof that he or she is a bad student or s/he would fail in life. There are many unsuccessful high CGPA holders out there, and there are equally very successful people who hold low G.P.A’s from school. Simply put, GPA DOESN’T DETERMINE OUR SUCCESS IN LIFE.
