Students of the Dentistry Department at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) are raising alarm over a growing crisis that has left more than 300 of them uncertain about their academic futures.
According to concerned voices within the institution, the students are reportedly stuck in academic limbo, with some allegedly being advised to switch to other departments such as Chemistry—despite the course’s limited capacity.
“The quota for Dentistry is 10, yet we have classes with as many as 90 students,” one source familiar with the situation told this reporter. “What was the plan for these students?”
The situation is compounded by the fact that final-year students who have completed their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) examinations have not been inducted, even as their MBBS counterparts prepare for induction on July 21.
Multiple letters and appeals have reportedly been made to the university authorities, but no official resolution has been announced. The affected students say their repeated calls for clarity and action have gone unanswered.
Stakeholders and concerned citizens are now calling on regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Dental and Medical Councils, as well as relevant government ministries, to urgently intervene.
“This is a matter of students’ futures,” one advocate stated. “Their time, energy, and education are at stake. It is time for the authorities to act swiftly and fairly.”
The university is yet to issue a formal statement on the matter at the time of filing this report.
