VET STUDENTS REACTION ABOUT THE JUST CONCLUDED CAT WEEK

 VOX POPULI

C.A.T WEEK: HELPFUL OR DANGEROUS? VET STUDENTS OPINE!

Ø  As much as it was a good concept, it didn't favor the 300level because the normal supposedly 15 weeks lecture has been cut down to 12weeks for this semester. It didn't favor 300 Level students because this is our MB semester and we are the only one writing the main exam this semester in Vet. School. Although we were able to read but we had not covered much before the test week. ANONYMOUS -300L

Ø  In my opinion, the test week WAS NOT IN ANY WAY BENEFICIAL, as vet students we are already accustomed to doing tests regularly, for each lecturer and segregation of a test week was highly unnecessary. Apart from disrupting the delicate timetable most of us have planned in preparation for our exams, it also wasted one whole week of lectures leaving us with just 12 weeks to cover a syllabus designed for 15 weeks. And now we must struggle to finish our lectures before the exams especially those of us in DVM II doing the part one exams. ANONYMOUS -300L

Ø  It was HELPFUL. Vet is so stressful that we have little or no time to read most of what we are taught. When test comes around, most students don't finish reading before writing tests. The CAT week has given us the opportunity to at least go through our notes before exam. However, it will be good if our scripts are marked and returned so we can make necessary corrections before examination. ANONYMOUS 200LEVEL

Ø  Before the test week, we believed the 10th week will be a lecture free week for reading. On hearing it was for tests, I was scared because I knew I was not 'up to the task’ yet. But am happy we did it, it reminded me that I had to tighten my heart and mind to reading. "People are serious, you have to gather up your barns too" I said; and the point where the results would be posted pulled me back to reality to go and read. CAT was "Calling Attention Test", it helped. Deborah Oladeji,200L

Ø  I'd just say it was helpful only if it was meant for tests really. It would have been more helpful if it was a complete lecture free week. Amos Olowookere, 400L

Ø  Well, in my own opinion, I'd say it's sudden and "not really helpful" it's a relatively new thing so, IT WAS ON A SHORT NOTICE.  I wonder why it was made compulsory for us (Vet Students) because as we all know, we are running a different system and writing such test(s) would at the long run have little or no effect.

Ø  The only advantage I would say it had is that it gave one the opportunity to at least go through the notes at that moment, but it wasn't an indepth reading, it was just a reading for that moment. ANONYMOUS, 600L

Ø  Test week was Neutral. Test is innate in vet school. SO TEST WEEK IS LIKE VACCINATING US WHEN WE HAVE THE IMMUNITY ALREADY. Most times it doesn't work. Ajao Isaac 600L

Ø  I feel it’s both. Dangerous: if the tests scores are going to count majorly in the assessment.  

Helpful: as it encourages students to read course materials and deliberately understand subject matter. Adeoye Toyin 500L