By Asuquo Cletus
Tensions are rising at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) as hundreds of students in the Faculty of Dentistry and Dental Surgery face potential withdrawal from the program due to alleged over-admission beyond the quota approved by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Affected students, some of whom are in their fourth and fifth years of study, say they were recently issued letters summoning them for a meeting regarding what school authorities described as โnon-regularโ admissions.
The controversy stems from claims that the university admitted more students than the number officially accredited by the MDCN, a move that could render the affected students ineligible for licensing and professional practice.
An official invitation letter seen by The Guild invites students to a scheduled meeting with faculty authorities. Although the letter stops short of explicitly stating expulsion, students interpret it as a precursor to being dropped from the program.
Speaking under conditions of animosity, an affected student said, โThis is our fourth year in this program. Weโve paid fees, done clinicals, passed courses, and now theyโre telling us we shouldnโt have been admitted?โ
โWe are not the ones who approved the admission quota. Why should we suffer for the institutionโs mistake?โ
While the university has yet to issue a formal public statement, some students allege that staff members have warned them against speaking to the media. โWe were told not to talk about this, even among ourselves,โ claimed another affected student. โBut we are tired of being quiet. We have families whoโve invested in us. We want answers.โ
Efforts to reach the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, were unsuccessful, as calls to her phone went unanswered and text messages were not returned at the time of filing this report.
