Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Abolishes Statements of Result, Ends Sale of Handouts
The management of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (formerly Abia State Polytechnic), Aba has announced that it will no longer issue “statements of result” or sell handouts to students, in a move intended to streamline academic processes, reduce student exploitation, and promote transparency.
Quick Insight: With this change, students will access their results digitally. Results must be uploaded within six weeks after examinations. The polytechnic says certificates will now carry QR codes for verification.
1. Why the Change?
• The Rector, Dr Christopher Okoro, explained that statements of result — once intended as temporary documents — had become tools for repeated fees and exploitation.
• He argued that students sometimes return years later to collect certificates, but are made to pay fees again and wait for retrieval of files.
• To reduce bureaucratic delay, the polytechnic has adopted full digitization of academic records and processes.
2. What the New Process Will Be
• Results will be published online within six weeks after exams. For final year students, uploads may occur in four weeks.
• Students will no longer have to physically approach lecturers to see results.
• The institution has also banned the sale of handouts and compelled purchase of textbooks via institutionally controlled platforms.
• Issued certificates will contain **QR codes** enabling third parties (like employers) to verify authenticity via the polytechnic’s registry.
3. Other Institutional Reforms Announced
• The polytechnic said it has cleared **36 months of salary arrears** for staff from previous administrations.
• The management claims it secured **full accreditation** for all 33 existing programmes, and obtained approval for 17 new programmes including AI, Cybersecurity, Mechatronics, Fashion Design, and Leather Technology.
• Infrastructure works, promotions of staff who were due but delayed, and the decommissioning of exploitative academic practices are also cited as priority shifts.
What This Means for Students & Education Policy
This approach could reduce multiple “pay-per-issue” fees that burden students, shorten delays in certificate issuance, and guard against forgery or manipulation. If successful, it might set a model for other polytechnics to digitize records and abolish redundant bureaucratic steps.
Challenges will include ensuring reliable IT infrastructure, digital literacy, system security, and transitioning from paper-based legacy systems without data loss.
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