With the recent declaration by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on the 14th of August, 2017 to embark on an indefinite strike following the failure of the Federal Government to fully implement the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement and the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it has become imperative to state that the Nigeria education system is gradually losing her salt by the day. ASUU was established in 1978 and has since then encountered some of the worst problems in the history of trade unionism in the Nigeria.
Going down memory lane, one would realise that ASUU has been in protracted strikes during the military and present civilian regimes. The negative effects of this strikes cannot be overemphasised been that education is a transformation tool in any given society and should be held in high esteem rather reverse seems to be the case in our society. Strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in Nigeria have had serious effects on the academic performance of the students, below are five (5) catastrophic ways ASUU strikes affects the performance of university students;
1. BATTERS ACADEMIC CALENDAR
There is no doubt that previous ASUU strikes have been known for battering and shattering academic calenders in great measures. This current indefinite strike also if extended any further would come to a large extend batter the academic calendar. This disruptions in academic programs goes a long in elongating academic calendars thereby accumulating more days, months and even years to a degree programme.
The universities academic calendar have been greatly disrupted by ASUU strikes right from the military regime down to this civilian regime. The situation is gradually degenerating from bad to worse. This disruption of academic calendar is one of the major causes of educational backwardness in Nigeria.
2. DISCOURAGES STUDENTS FROM LEARNING:
Aside battering academic calender, it also serves as non-motivational factor to students. It discourages them from learning. Incessant strikes dwindle the academic performances of students.
As learning is suspended for a long period, the students reading abilities fall. Even the knowledge acquired during the learning period is even forgotten by some students. In the long run, they soon forget about academics and are no longer prepared for class activities which negatively affect their learning capability. This mostly turns some students into certificate seekers than knowledge seekers.
3. ENCOURAGES HOOLIGANISM AND PROSTITUTION:
The third effect is closely connected to the second, which is engagement of the idle students in social vices including joining bad gangs and engaging in prostitution. Very many cases of pregnancy of young undergraduates during the period of strike have been reported.
It is not surprising therefore that during strike actions, most students are seen involved in diverse activities such as sexual immorality, cyber scam, pool betting, unnecessary gossips, watching of films and reading comic materials for entertainment purposes rather than reading their books.
4. LOSE OF TRUST IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM:
This concurrent strike actions has a way of making students totally lose faith in the educational system of the country. This is because a four year degree course has been unofficially increased to five years or even more.
Globally, there is the usual sneer when Nigerian universities are mentioned and a quick link with unstable university calendar due to frequent strikes. This image robs graduates of our universities of international esteem even when their worth has not been proven through employment.
5. CONDENSATION OF SYLLABUS:
The typical scenario is to condense or compress course topics that should have been taught for the period of the strike to about a fifth of the expected and rush students to examinations thereafter.
The negative effect of these condensed course topics to the academic empowerment of students’ learning effectiveness can better be imagined than described.
In conclusion, ASUU and F.G should recognize that the future of this country and the education of its citizens for overall development are premised on the formulations and implantation of positive educational and social policies. Therefore, the need for a re-evaluation of the education sector. Factors that often lead to strike in our institutions should be addressed. education should be properly and adequately funded to encourage effective research and to avoid brain drain.
Meanwhile, government should always try to honour whatever agreement reached with the union, so as to avoid these problems. Most protracted strikes can be averted if necessary steps are taken to build a good relationship between both parties. It is worth emphasizing that any government with a poor education system is heading towards a black future.
However, I hereby appeal to the conscience of ASUU and Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately speed up actions in resolving and implementing of their MoU and joint agreement between them to rescue the nation’s educational system.
•By: Divinelove Udorji (Mr. Brainy)
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