A lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, Port Harocurt, Dr Felix Igwe, has said that the suspension of part-time programme in  Nigerian universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC) is a welcome development.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Dr Igwe said that the NUC is looking at the issue properly in order to come  up with guidelines for monitoring and ensuring that there is quality control in the programme.

According to him, the part-time programmes not been scrapped but have been suspended so that NUC can come up with  guidelines that would regulate the implementation of the programmes in the universities.

He said there is wisdom in it, because, some of the excesses of our times have to be controlled.

Dr Igwe, who is also the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of universities (ASUU), RSUST chapter, stressed that part-time programme have become an all-comers thing, where people just go to get degrees without necessarily doing the work that’s necessary for them to do.

He said however, that part-time programme  should not be scrapped since it is run all over the world, adding that some persons who may not have opportunity to go into full-time programme can combine work with  schooling.

He advised that part-time programme should be closely monitored to ensure that it is not more than 20 per cent of the students’ population, other wise, it would be an aberration.

Eunice Choko-Kayode