The Nigerian educational system has dealt with most students treacherously. My own ordeal started from 2002. I was admitted to the Department of Business Administration and Management, Faculty of Management Science, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.
I discontinued the programme due to inconsistency as a result of incessant academic strikes. I opted for a fresh undergraduate degree programme in another tertiary institution in the country since I had tried studying abroad, but no opportunity for sponsorship.
Now at the Yaba College of Technology, I obtained a part-time studies form for my National Diploma in February 2005 for what was billed to be a six-semester, two years programme. The session began in November 2006, but I graduated in August 2010. You will indeed be surprised that it took me more than four years for a programme of two years. I left LASU because of academic strike and met same thing at YabaTech.
As soon as the first session was concluded in February 2008, the school went on an indefinite strike that lasted for more than 10 months. The Students Union Government dragged the school management to court. The whole issue was however resolved in October/November, 2008.
Meanwhile, I obtained my Higher National Diploma form in July 2011. I was admitted for a two-year programme in the School of Management and Business Studies. The first session went on smoothly without any issue. We resumed for the second session. The first semester examination was held amid several speculations that there was going to be a strike by the Senior Staff of the institution. This was so evident, as the invigilators that came to each examination hall were junior staff of the institution. Immediately the examination was concluded, the college management asked all students to vacate the halls of residence.
I was recently made to understand that the same issue that the staff at YabaTech agitated for in 2008 was still the same reason they went on strike this time. I was informed that the Federal Government hearkened to the plight and agitation of these lecturers and non-academic staff in year 2008. The college management refused to pay the lecturers and non-academic staff and this resulted in another academic strike.
The strike action has been on for more than one month now. I am a final year student (HND2) with less than four months to graduate. For how long will the strike last? The memorandum released the other day by the YabaTech management read: Resumption postponed indefinitely! Who is going to save the future of Nigerian students in higher institutions? The few available jobs in the labour market demand that applicants must be within the age bracket of 24 to 26 years. Most of us are 30 years and over before graduating. How do we survive these time-wasting strike actions?
This is an appeal to the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, and other stakeholders in the sector to come to our aid and save our future! These incessant and long-drawn strikes in the nation’s education sector do not bode well for its overall development. How can a nation that aspires or dreams to be among the best in the world be this indifferent to the education of those who should drive the same vision?
