Against the backdrop of the clamour for the re-engineering of the education system, ALEXANDER CHIEJINA who toured some campuses of the Lagos State University (LASU) writes that there is a need to improve the learning environment in the nation's higher institutions
The state of education is one of the crucial indicators of the seriousness of a society in its quest for national development. This is because the quality of education in a society determines the quality of its leaders as well as its pace of social development. Universities (higher institutions) in advanced and well-organised societies are centres of social activities and they provide conducive ambience for research, teaching and learning. However, many believe that the culture of deceit has prevented the country from providing qualitative education to its youth in order to prepare them for the economic and social challenges of the 21st century.
Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria's foremost President, in his remarks to the Eastern House Assembly on May 18, 1995, said: "The immediate aim of African education should be to develop character, initiative, and ability of the youth of the country, so that they may be reliable, useful, and intelligent in the rapidly changing life and circumstances of their own people… Anything narrower than this must lead to a stagnant and menacing flood of unemployed and unemployable youth".
In the light of the above, the nation's educational system has witnessed transition from the indigenous system where mature men instructed youths in personal up keeping and resource management, good citizenship and community responsibilities, to the formal Western education brought by the missionaries in the mid-nineteenth century.
In the 1960s, schools were properly administered and discipline was strictly enforced. The quality of graduates was high and certificates awarded by the schools were equal to those awarded by schools in Europe and America. The demand for higher education in Nigeria increased during the oil boom of the 1970s and the number of students increased without commensurate funding.
However, as time went on, focus on qualitative tertiary education declined. This steadily gave rise to a drop in the quality of graduates coming from our University system thus, affecting every facet of the society.
In spite of this, government each year keeps saying it commits a lot of resources towards improving tertiary education in the country. Before now, the goals and objectives as spelt out by National Universities Commission (NUC) as well as the national policy in education are critically being undermined as there had been no significant improvement in the quality of education in our higher institutions.
Recently, in a bid to revamp tertiary education in the country, the NUC had directed all university satellite campuses to be shut down amid fears of falling standards and the over-commercialization of tertiary education. Peter Okebukola, the then executive secretary of National University Commission, said: "The satellite campuses are merely business centres for economic gain and are profit-oriented instead of providing quality education."
The directive, given in 2001, was enforced with a circular to all vice-chancellors informing them that failure to comply could result in their dismissal and the withdrawal of funds, including staff salaries. While most Universities complied few others didn't heed the directive by NUC. This then led to the immediate past NUC executive Secretary Julius Okojie, to re-affirm the initial directive that all universities in the country running external campuses (satellite campuses) be shut down.
At this point, Lagos State University (LASU) had several satellite campuses still running within Lagos metropolis. The refusal to shut down its satellite campuses led to a recent face-off between authorities of LASU and the National Universities Commission (NUC). This face-off once again opened a new vista in our quest for worthwhile education in the country.
At present, Lagos State University (LASU) remains one of the few institutions in the country that operates satellite campuses with LASU alone having more than 61, 000 students in those campuses.
On the other hand, satellite campus in accordance with the National Universities Commission (NUC) guidelines on which basis illegal satellite campuses were closed down, states: "a satellite campus must not be more than 200 kilometres from the main campus, must not be located in a state outside the state in which the main campus is located, must have staff of the satellite campus directly or indirectly appointed by main campus in line with laid down academic standards."
Business Day learnt that LASU authorities are relying on this caveat in their decision to retain the satellite campuses, especially as they all fall within about 100 kilometres from the main campus in Ojo.
At NUC, the argument seems to be that beyond fulfilling situational requirements, emphasis should also be placed on the environment and quality of learning. While expressing his view on the situation at LASU, Okojie revealed: "The system at LASU is bad, and we have a responsibility to protect the sanctity of certificates being issued to its graduates. Most of the courses offered by the university were not accredited, while consultants were used to run courses from unsuitable locations."
While the clamp down on erring institutions is still yet to be seen, the management of LASU, established in 1983 via the enabling Law of Lagos State University, has maintained that the university ab initio was conceived, and has since been operating, as a multi-campus institution which initially comprised four campuses at Ojo, Epe, Ikeja and Surulere. Other external campuses are at Anthony Village, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lekki, Festac Town, Ikoyi, Isolo and Agege. The situation at these campuses as it relates to the conducive environment to learning has continued to inspire robust debates.
There is no doubt however that some of these centres are in an appalling state. The Abule Egba centre which operates from the premises of the State High School offers part-time programmes in the management sciences, computer science, history and international relations. But a visit to the centre will surely leave no one in doubt about the pressure the students are going through as a result of the squalid learning environment.
Students enrolled in part-time programmes at the centre crowd themselves in all manner of structures including perforated containers which serve as lecture rooms as well as laboratories.
It is fascinating that majority of the students that register for the part time programmes young school leavers who ordinarily have enrolled for the regular full time programmes. Nkechi Alozie, a second year student of Business Administration at Abule Egba campus told Business Day that she chose to study there because the campus is close to where she stays.
"It is just a difference of a year extra for the course you intend studying and at the end of the day; you get your certificate with which you can always obtain a job," she says in defence of her choice.
However, a 200 level student in the department of Computer science who pleaded anonymity noted that he embraced the choice as a last resort.
"I had to enrol for this programme just because I need a University certificate. The learning environment is nothing to write home about because as when the sun begins to shine, the classes (container structure) becomes so hot that you can hardly concentrate. You can also see that roof of the classroom block is leaking. What baffles me is that every year, the school keeps admitting students but do not improve facilities."
Business Day made effort to speak with LASU authorities to no avail. A staff of the university at the main campus in Ojo who pleaded anonymity however maintained that "as far as I know LASU is doing everything within its power to ensure that standards are not comprised in any of its campuses."
There is no doubt that good education guarantees the ability of a nation to grow, develop and compete effectively in the rapidly changing global economy.
As concern mounts on the quality of education in the country, many analysts are of the view that the university system as the highest level of learning should be accorded all the attention it requires.
There is no doubt that good education guarantees the ability of a nation to grow, develop and compete effectively in the rapidly changing global economy.
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