Nigerian Post Graduate Schools

THE LONG DURATION OF SCIENCE ORIENTED PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA'S POST GRADUATE SCHOOLS

Brethren, as usual I stand on the pulpit once more to preach nothing but the gospel truth. I reassure and sincerely promise you that as long as you remain a member of the congregation of my humble ministry, you shall no doubt be very close to realism. Thank God I’ve often time given a hint on the aforementioned school of thought, realism; thus, it’s no longer a new term to us. Please as you follow or cherish any preacher, try to be mindful of impostors because imitations are everywhere. Let’s ride on!

“Please obey the church order!” That was an exclamation that was dished out by a church warden presiding in one of the Catholic churches situated in Imo State during a certain requiem mass I attended. The said instruction was as a result of the anomaly the warden noticed among some members of the congregation. From my observation, I understood that some of the presentees were sitting while they were meant to kneel down. In spite of the instruction which also served as a reminder to most of them who were members of the Catholic dominion, some remained adamant in an issue relating to the modus operandi of a church. What impunity in a place of worship! I was extremely disgusted over the ugly scene. You needed to view my sympathetic mood.

It’s no longer news that many have been parading with the popularly cited chorus which’s of the view that education is the backbone or rudiments of any nation’s developmental stride. But how prepared are we to stand by any educational crusade/cause? Yes, since most of the learned individuals has started behaving like mere bunch of ignoramuses, everyone has suddenly become skeptical over any proposed positive transition as regards education. If not, how can a country like Nigeria still be debating or romancing over infrastructural decay in her various citadel of higher learning. Even our secondary/primary schools are not left out in the ongoing matter.

Lately I’ve come to realize that the above stated anomaly, infrastructural decay, occurring in our various higher institutions is one of the paramount causes of the long duration of most science oriented disciplines in our post graduate schools. It beats my psyche each time I look around and see most of our post graduate students spending over four years or thereabouts in a discipline that’s expected to last for just eighteen (18) calendar months as regards master degree (MSc/MA) programmes; or spending over six years in one that’s bound to last for three years or thereabouts in respect to doctorate degree programmes. This syndrome is common among the pure/advanced science students.

I’ve also come to acknowledge the fact that the plight of the students in question does not lie only on the infrastructural decay; I’m of the view that the University teachers are also the problem. Most of our lecturers has borrowed the habit of being self-centered or attending to issues that are of their personal interests. Whosoever that lent the habit to them is what I don’t know or can’t explain. For instance, most of them dodge their respective lecture classes with the aim of issuing series of handouts to the students, whilst some don’t even provide time to discuss the project works embarked on by the students assigned/allocated to them thereby prolonging the usual/stipulated duration of the project work as well as the programme in general. Even, some of the lecturers demands huge amount of cash from the students before their project would be considered or attended to.

For crying out loud, reasonable amount of time is required in science oriented courses because these are disciplines that are practically intensive. When I mention “time”, I’m actually referring to the time the concerned lecturers are expected to cough up for the students. Handouts can never address the issue of learning as regards science-oriented fields, rather, thorough teaching coupled with sound laboratory/workshop coaching. If the required time is not being provided by the lecturers, it goes a long way tarnishing the academic image of the learners and as well lingers the stipulated duration of their programmes.

At this juncture, I urge the concerned societies/groups such as Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC) and other related bodies to put more effort towards ascertaining the bad eggs and to ensure that the required facilities in our various Universities are provided by the appropriate authorities/quarters.

Enough of today’s preaching because we’ve gotten the message; therefore I hereby draw my curtail. Meanwhile before I leave, I must let us know that it’s high time we quitted the outrageous occurrence of impunity being displayed on a daily basis even in a place of worship. Think about it!



COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

frednwaozor@gmail.com