Two lecturers at Makerere University have said that most students who post poor grades during examinations do not attend lectures.

Vincent Muwonge, a lecturer in the Department of Psychology, urges students to attend lectures because first-hand information is got from the lecturers. “Missing lectures may not seem to be a big deal but at the end of the day people who miss class end up not performing and they are the ones who get 48% or 49% in final examinations,” Muwonge said.

Muwonge explained that he was surprised by the big number of students who showed up for his test last week compared to the number that shows up for his lectures and to make matters worse, some of the students did not know that he was the course facilitator.

Dr. Paul Omach, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, echoed the same points. He explained that students should have focus at the university even if there is too much liberty. “Focus is the most important aspect of life, so if one decides to miss lectures intentionally thinking that the handouts will help that’s not true because you cannot understand what hasn't been explained to you,” Dr Omach said.

He added: “And that is  the reason why you find someone attempting only three questions in an examination yet they are expected to attempt all the four questions.”

Some students have, however, made their own arguments for missing lectures. Arike Siraje Taban, from the Department of Psychology, said that he stays far and sometimes the heavy traffic on the roads makes him miss most of the early morning lectures. “I come from Luzira and in the morning there is a lot of traffic at Bugolobi and Industrial Area so I end up reaching here late,” he said

Moses Baguma, a student of Journalism and Communication, also complained that at times when he comes the lecturers do not show up so he decides to stay home and save on transport.  “I always attend class but the more you attend and the lecturer doesn't come without any communication it makes me feel like I am wasting my money to go to school yet am not going to gain anything from there,” he argued.