Nigerian Universities Directed to Revert to Five Point Grading Scale

Latest: Nigerian Universities Directed to Revert to Five Point Grading Scale

In a statement signed by Dr G.B. Kumo, Director Academic Planning for the Executive Secretary of NUC, the Commission stated that it has been inundated with series of inquiries particularly from the International Organizations and Foreign Universities on the status of the four point scale in use and previous degrees issued during the five point scale.

Presenting the letter on the Grading System and Degree classification in the Nigerian University System to Members of Senate, the Director Academic Planning Unit, Professor Vincent Asuru said that the issue of course credit system of Grade Point Average in the Nigerian University System was discussed by Directors of Academic Planning Units early 2017 when they met and that the issue of the removal of pass degree was discussed leading to the adoption of a four point grading system.

However, the four point scale which some universities started implementing was also found to have severe implementation shortcomings with some universities observing serious difficulties getting students to acquire average class of degree while the scale made it easier for students to have first class degrees.

Professor Vincent Asuru however stated that Ignatius Ajuru University of Education had maintained the five point scale of grading system before the directives from the National Universities Commission ( NUC).

You can track some the grading system changes below:

June 2018: Fed Poly Bauchi to Implement New NBTE Grading System

Reports have it that the Federal Polytechnic Bauchi will soon be implementing the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE’s) grading system for polytechnics known as Standardized Unified Grading System, effective from first semester 2017/2018 academic session.

The new grading system which is operational in virtually all polytechnics across the country affects students who are currently in ND1, Diploma 1 and HND 1, implying that ND2, Diploma2 and HND2 are not affected by this development.

Details of the Standardized Unified Grading System are as follows:

• 75% & above. =A. 
• 70%–74% =AB
• 65%–69% =B
• 60%–64% =BC
• 55%–59% =C
• 50%–54% =CD 
• 45%–49% =D 
• 40%–44% =E 
• Below 40. =F

And the Standardized Unified Classification of Diplomas is as thus:

• 3.50 & above =Distinction 
• 3.00–3.49. =Upper Credit 
• 2.50–2.99. =Lower Credit
• 2.00–2.49. =Pass

Speaking during a sensitisation lecture organised for academic staff of the Polytechnic, the Rector Arc Sanusi Waziri Gumau said there was the need for staff to brest up to the new reality and comply with the directive of the NBTE to avoid penalties.

The Rector used the occasion to charge students, especially those in ND1, Diploma1 and HND1 to redouble effort and work hard in order to be successful in their studies and prayed to God to see them through in the forthcoming examinations.

February 2017: UI New Grading System And Changes In The Status Of GES Courses

Sequel to the University of Ibadan Senate’s decision, at its meeting of 18 July, 2016 the New Grading System and Minimum Units to be registered for and passed by students at each level, as well as Change in the status of GES courses in the University are as follows:

1. The average minimum units taken at each Level should be 40 units.

2. The minimum units to be passed at each Level by students in order to proceed to the next Level should be 60% of 40 units.

3. All GES courses, with the exception of the “Use of English I & II (GES 101 and 201)”, should be made to acquire the status of REQUIRED COURSES.

4. The 4-Point Scale Grading System should be adopted in order to align with other universities world-wide and the recommendation of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The above implies that the recommended Average Minimum Units expected of the students to take/register for is now 40 units (for the new intakes: 100 Level) as against the old 30 units. Given this development, the regulations guiding withdrawal of students in the University in respect of the new system are as follows:

i. 100 Level: At the end of first year, a student who has passed less than 24 units should be asked to withdraw from the University.

ii. 200 Level: At the end of second year, a student who has passed less than 48 units (cumulative) should be asked to withdraw from the University.

iii. 300 Level: At the end of third year, a student who has passed less than 72 units (cumulative) should be asked to withdraw from the University.

iv. The CGPA at each level should not be less than 1.0

Under the new Four (4)-Point Grading Scale, grades to be used for students who have satisfactorily completed the course of study are as follows:

Letter Grade: Marks Grade Point

A (70 and above above) 4

B (60-69%) 3

C (50-59%) 2

D (45-49%) 1

E (40-44%) 0

CGPA Ranges under the new Four (4)- Point Grading Scale for Classification of Degrees:

3.5- 4.00 – First Class Honours

3.0-3.49 – Second Class Honours (Upper Division)

2.0-2.99 – Second Class Honours (Lower Division)

1.0-1.99 – Third Class Honours

No student whose CGPA is less than 1.0 shall be awarded a degree

Deans of Faculties and Heads of Departments are enjoined to ensure compliance and commencement of the new regulations with the intakes of 2016/2017 Session, while the old regulations remain applicable to students admitted before the 2016/2017 Session.

October 2016: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK) has implemented NUC new approved scoring and grading in Nigerian Universities

The Senate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUSOK) at its 304th (Special) meeting held on Friday 7th October, 2016 considered the grading system in line with the NUC new approved Guidelines for Course System and Grade Point Average in Nigerian Universities and approved the following Table:

NUC New Approved Scoring & Grading System

Grading of Score and Grade Point Calculation

TABLE 1:      Score and Grade Point (GP) for GPA/CGPA Calculation

 TABLE 2:  Degree Classification based on CGPA

May 2016: Fed Poly Bida Release New Grading System For HND I And ND I

The management of the Federal Polytechnic Bida at a meeting on Thursday 5th May, 2016  directed all HODS to implement the new unified grading system for all polytechnics released recently by NBTE for NDI and HND 1 this session.

The old system should still be maintained for ND II and HND II.

The new unified grading system as released by NBTE is reproduced here under for your information.