Arguing with a few people over the ASUU/FG crises just exposed the ignorance of issues within Nigerians. These same people who never care to just read backgrounds, purpose, press releases or explanation of issues come here to act experts.
In blame ASUU for a very poor sensitization/PR to the Nigerian people. Simply believing Nigerians will comprehend is not enough. Nigerians always need bombardment of information to realise things. I decided to address this today seeing the lack of understanding everywhere.
The Nigerian tertiary education system is grossly subsidised. Inspite of the sense of entitlement among Nigerian tertiary students, tuition does not even generate up to 10% of the costs of running a university. Nigeria is a developing nation & this is why government is involved.
All ASUU has been fighting for all these years is better teaching facilities for Nigerian students. Students need to practice with Bunsen burners not stoves. Students deserve practical media training not a theoretical. Practical writing courses can't happen with classes of 200.
Usage of certain laboratory instrument was an issue in an external defence. Student defended that she has never seen it or been taught with it but had to make do with textbook illustration & 'substitute' as an undergraduate. The professors who knew she was right had to let go.
How many times do we let go of standard because we know we just have to. How many times do we give single CAs in whole semesters cos you cannot repeatedly evaluate classes of 300? Computer science students need access to systems if they are to learn & develop needed software.
Engineering students need to move from solely finding the value of X to access to enough practical facilities. How will students learn intense mathematical skills choked up like sardines? Most institutions have no PAS, so lecturers have to scream hoarse in classes of 300.
Universities do not provide lecturers with computers or staff offices. Research & other works are done from personal systems & sometimes printers & projectors. I may go on and on on issues needing attention which every Nigerian youth is also well aware of but choose to be selfish
The university system is in the verge of breaking down. We have reached a point where the fairly wealthy send their kids out of the country or to private ones because of the incondusive learning environment. Departments are understaffed & overworked while students are unmotivated
A graduate assistant (a first degree holder & academic entry point) is not supposed to teach but to aquire higher degrees. After getting a masters he becomes an Assistant Lecturer & should be attached to a professor to assist & relieve the professor while being mentored.
A university lecturer is only supposed to independently teach & supervise students as a Research Fellow II which is at least 3/5 years after employment.This is hardly practiced because most universities are bottom heavy (majority lower rank lectures) so who teaches the multitude?
Therefore the Graduate Assistants/Assistant Lectures with little experience, also requiring mentoring & with meagre consolidated salaries of 90/120s teach hundreds of students, sponsor themselves in higher degrees & are examination officers because everybody is over burdened.
A 55 year professor with 30 years experience teaches an average of 3 undergraduate classes of 500/20 supervisees students & 3 postgraduate classes of 200 students/10 supervisees. He is on so many commitees & is expected to lead research. He earns only a consolidated 400 thousand.
He is expected to take care of his family, train his kids, research & publish all within the 400k. The professor also accept invitation for visiting because there are so many universities without senior academics who need his expertise & he also needs to make an extra 200k.
This amount seems much better than what civil servants are paid. Lecturing is a job that leaves no time for any side hustle if it is to be done right. Even when we don't go to work for days, we are researching, writing or grading students files/ assignments sometimes overnight.
The peers of university professors in other Nigerian sectors fare much better. The army General, the Police DIGs, the justices not to mention political appointees putting in few or no hours of work in a week. What crime has the Nigerian lecturer committed to be shabbily treated?
No wonder the system is riddled with massive brain drain because most lectures leave once they realise they are in a system where they are not adequately compensated nor appreciated. The system no longer attracts the best because it lacks motivation & inspiration.
It is demoralising that despite being tenure university lecturers/visiting in up to two others for 30 or more years, many professors retire without personal houses & only buy from retirement benefit after evacuation from staff quarters. No wonder nobody wants to be a lecturer.
The solution to the terrible Nigerian academic system may just lie in Privatisation. Government can now let go of what they feel is a strain on their peace of mind. Lecturers will have to be versatile & earn their keep & we may afterall make it to the top global universities too.
That way everybody will be happy, ASUU will disappear fon your headlines, student loans will be readily available, lecturers will be well paid engaged in research but this time around not by government funds but from your tuition fees.
I know many of those top global universities will scramble to manage our unutilised universities and turn them into worthy educational establishments. Many of us will survive the privatisation because we have taken time to build our selves under the shitty conditions.
I've taught communication/media to many now in local & international media agencies putting our teaching into practice. I may just throw the baby with the bath water & go into media. It's time we all make our own millions & allow government do what it likes with its institutions.
With alot of understanding of all the shit you go through, it's with pleasure I inform Nigerian students that if privatisation happens you'll get the best learning facilities, your parents won't have to worry about strikes anymore, ASUU will also disappear from the headlines too.
Here comes the most important information, your schools will be able to lead in teaching & research but ehm... you'll have to pay tuition as big as the top global universities so that lecturers will be adequately paid & research sponsored, you know our government has no money.
If you are from a poor home don't panic, our banks will be engaged & very happy to give you student loans that you'll only spend half your lifetime paying & the other half planning for retirement. You see when privatisation happens everybody will be happy & progress will be made.
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