Classes resume after five-month break following riot

ABA, Nigeria, Feb. 4 -- The University of Calabar management has announced the official resumption of te scool to complete te remaining part of te session which was truncated sometime last year. This was carried in a text message to the students in the late hours of Friday 3rd February after the senate meeting, the students were called upon to resume in earnest.

The students of Unical had been on a compulsory ‘’mid-semester’’ break break since 27th August 2011 after a two-day radical protest which left the campus communit wit numerous damages. The Unical ‘’mid-semester’’ break which officially ended on 6t January was extended due to te National Strike action of the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started on 5t December 2011.

The Unical Students were notified via a bulk SMS. The SMS reads: ‘’Unical reopens on Friday 3rd February, 2012. Students return on Monday 6th February 2012. Re-integration process as follows: verification at the gates, clearance at the departments, re-admission into the halls of residence; rededication service scheduled to hold on Thursday 9th February, 2012 (today) at the Faculty of Arts Auditorium by 10am. Hostel admission ends by 7pm daily. Come with two passports. Visit www.unical.edu.ng for more information.

However, the Public Relations Officer of the school, Mr. Bassey Effiong Eyo acknowledged that the SMS is an electronic document of the school. He told Campuslife correspondent that ‘’the SMS was the decision of the Senate. It was organized and sent from the ICT Department of the school by the ICT Director. Unical has resumed. The information has been sent to NTA, Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation and other media houses. The notices have been sent and pasted in every department of the school. The information will be in the internet for the students residing far places to utilize’’, he concluded.


One of the students, Iyang Inyemsit admitted that the new information method was ideal and most welcomed. He he expressed happiness over the developmental efforts of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Epoke, in rebranding the ivory tower. Also Sarah Ndukwe who resides about 72 KM from the shool said the school resumption was not pleasant to her as it resumed ''later than i expected. Most of us have forgoten what we had been taught long before the break. But all the same, i believe there is always a way out of it.


EMMANUEL SHEBBS
UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR