Nigerians React To NUC Ban On Part-Time Programmes

Stakeholders in the education sector, have described the suspension of part-time programmes in Nigerian Universities by the National University Commission (NUC) as in infringement on the fundamental rights of Nigerians to education.

A cross section of stakeholders who spoke to The Tide on the issue also described the suspension as ill-timed against the background of the move by the government to promote literacy at all levels.

In his view, the Head of the Department of Banking and Finance, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Dr T.A Ngerebo said that the suspension would deprive those Nigerians who want to acquire knowledge through the part-time programme.

“Suspending the programme is like telling most Nigerians that they cannot have university education’, he said.

Dr Ngerebo said that instead of suspending the programme, the commission needs to put in place a regulatory body that would ensure adherence to standard.

Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in the university., Pastor Mathias Daniel opposed the suspension, stressing that part-time programmes were not peculiar to Nigerian universities alone.

He said that Nigerians who had overgrown the age for full-time or regular programme should be encouraged to go for part-time, stressing that apart from acquiring degrees, most Nigerian workers also get promotion through the part-time programme.

In his view, Prof Atuboyedia Obianime of the University of Port Harcourt complained that the institution runs one of the most standard part-time programmes , accommodating thousands of Nigerians.

He said that lumping the world-class part-time programme run by the university in the sweeping suspension order was inappropriate, and appealed to the NUC to take a second look at the decision.

Also speaking, Mr Nuka Wilcox said that the situation would discourage people from going to school, especially those of adult age.

Mr Wilcox who urged the commission to revise the suspension noted that the NUC needed to set a body to monitor the standard.

Chidinma Cyril, a civil servant said that as an OND holder, she did part-time to help her overcome her deficiencies in academics, and stated that if the government stops the programmes , it would affect millions of Nigerians, particularly those who do not have time for regular programmes on campus.

In Cross River State, Dr. Samuel Agim, a lecturer in the Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH), described the development as a welcome step.

He was of the opinion that, students who are desirous of studying should enroll straight in the conventional university, while those who want to study through part time should go to the open university of Nigeria.

He told The Tide in Calabar that the idea of part time programme had made many students lazy and consequently resulting in poor academic performance.

Chris Akpan Udoh of the University of Calabar recalled that the open university has conventional study programmes with materials to suit any student who wants to carry out part time studies while still be working or doing some other things at the same time.

Udoh described as an eye sore what goes on in the university environment these days. In order to stem this tide, he said the recent decision by the NUC was a good thing that would streamline academic pursuit in the country.

However, Joy Agba Njie and Solomon Ushie both part time students of the CRUTECH, argued that the scrapping of the programme would affect them as most of them may not have enough fund to register to the open university programme, let alone  their study materials.

“This is a good development, because the proliferation of the these programmes encourages quacks. This would help in solving the deteriorating educational standard in the country,” Chief Stephen Eyo-Omori, stated with all amount of certainty.

Chief Omori frowned at a situation where  a student would merely register for a programme and went his or her way and  only come back to sort during or after examinations.

To help raise the standard of education in this country, the NUC should not revert so as not to throw our integrity overboard.

Our correspondent reports that students in all the tertiary institutions in Calabar metropolis received the news with rude shock as they were seen in groups discussing the development.

In Lagos, The Tide reports that the recent pronouncement of scrapping of all part-time programmes in Nigerian universities by the National University Commission has been greeted with mixed reactions from civil servants, academicians, lawyers and other Lagos residents.

Some of those who spoke with our correspondent condemned it, saying government should give it a time frame.

According a staff of Oto-Awori local government development area,” what NUC should have done is to give it a time frame and not out-right suspension.

According to Mr. Jimoh Bale, with the suspension, it would be difficult for us working as civil servants to go to school as to broading and upgrade ourselves.

Eunice Choko-Kayode, Friday Nwagbara, Nkpemenyie Mcdominic