The management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has asked the 300-level medicine and surgery students of the College of Medicine to sign an undertaking to spend an extra four years in the institution due to shortages in teaching equipment.

According to the undertaking notice to the students seen by Peoples Gazette, they are to wait for four years when there’ll be space for them to continue with their chosen course of study.

Furthermore, the students will have to enrol in an 18-month BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology just to prevent them from being idle while they continue paying their school fees regularly during their waiting period.

Additionally, the school, in the undertaking, made the students promise not to be involved in any form of protest against the directive.

The undertaking was issued to the students on the day of their examination.

It read, “I hereby undertake as follows: After my Part 1MBBS (Professional) Examinations, I will undertake an 18-month intercalated BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology in the College of Medicine.

“I will wait until any time there is space for me to proceed to Clinical (400 Level) before I will do so.

“I will continue to pay school fees as a medical student.

“I will adhere to the above undertaking and will not involve myself in any form of demonstration/protest or any other act that may tarnish the image of the college and the University,” it added.

Making clarification on the undertaking notice to the students, a top official of the institution told The Gazette under anonymity for lack of authorisation to comment on the controversy, that the medical and dental council said the students are too many, as they’re over 400 students but available facilities can only take 120.

The official explained that the students were asked to go to their parents to seek advice on whether they wanted to transfer their children to another school.

According to the official, If they decide to transfer to another school, their transcripts will be processed for free. However, if they choose to remain in the institution, then they’ll have to stay for three to four years until there will be space.

He added that rather than wasting their time not doing anything, the students were asked to take another course for the time they were waiting.

The medical college provost, Godfrey Iyalomhe. did not return a request seeking comments.

However, the undertaking has elicited outrage from students and others concerned.

X user, Naz🍀🍀, posted the undertaking notice on his handle, @Poeticmedic1 on Wednesday, saying, “Forcing students to sign an undertaking like this on the day of their exam is madness. Even cults don’t operate like this. You’re asking people who have already spent 5 years in the school to sign away their futures, and every opportunity to get justice?

“These are children with dreams. How can a school be so shameless?? They paid their fees, paid all the money you asked for; the government paid your salaries, and this how you’re going to treat your own students???? Is it because your children are not here????. Are we not someone’s child?????????

“You spent 5 years to make it to 400 level but there is no space in 400 level, so you must go to another department, graduate in that department before you’re allowed to come back, and even if you do that, space might not open up so you must wait any amount of years,” he explained further.