Probe That Rivpoly Crisis

Some students of the Rivers State Polytech
nic (RIVPOLY), Bori, went on rampage
without any warning and in the process destroyed the institution’s property worth several millions of Naira. That action, made it imperative for authorities of the school to order an indefinite closure of the institution.
RIVPOLY which has been known for its focus on high academic standards and peace shocked the State and dented its amiable record. Even as the institution was promptly shut, The Tide thinks that a full scale probe is required, not only to bring the culprits to book, but also to ensure that the ugly development does not repeat itself.
Although there are conflicting reports on the reason for the rampage, it is most irresponsible, callous and primitive for these mature students to vent their anger on the very facilities on which their education depends. As a polytechnic that provides hands-on-education, facilities are very central to their teaching.
Given the destabilising effects of the protracted nationwide strikes by the Academic Staff Unions of Universities and that of their counterparts in polytechnics this year, it is expected that students of tertiary institutions across the nation would concern themselves more with their lectures.
For the students of RIVPOLY to have caused the shutdown of their institution at a time other tertiary institutions are barely settling down to meaningful academic work is indeed condemnable. These students actually need to be asked if it was the school property that offended them.
We note efforts being made to develop and expand the capabilities of RIVPOLY by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency and other international agencies that have partnered with the institution to establish a state-of-the-art manpower development centres. In addition to the specialised machines are structures made possible by funding from TETFUND and ETF.
It is therefore ironical that students of the institution would out of their own volition destroy the cutting-edge facilities provided for their training and advancement. It is indeed shameful that reasonable adults that make up the student population would become so barbaric over a mere rumour that a student may have been killed.
There is the need to confirm that the school authorities actually ordered the suspension of all elections in the institution at the time until after the examinations, on the one hand, and that the Akwa-Ibom Students Association decided to hold an election in contravention of that order, on the other hand.
What the students of RIVPOLY did is very condemnable and the law must be made to take its course. At a time of national economic recession that has also impacted adversely on the statutory allocation to States, existing educational facilities and infrastructure ought to be jealously protected by beneficiaries.
There are also numerous development projects across the State requiring funding and RIVPOLY should not constitute a drain pipe on the State’s scarce resources. We urge government to treat the RIVPOLY incidence with dispatch with a view to ensuring that culprits in the unwholesome incidence are brought to justice and normal academic activities restored at the institution.
No doubt, the disappointment and frustration of hard-working and committed students and their parents and guardians can be best imagined. The temptation for vices and crimes during this period of the cosure of the institution for some students can be very real.
It is only hoped that, besides whatever punitive actions the institution’s authorities would take on students with regard to the vandalised infrastructure, stakeholders and government in particular, should be magnanimous enough to ensure that academic activities resumed at RIVPOLY as soon as possible.
The recent advice of the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is instructive; under no circumstances, no crisis, no matter the reason, should students embark on the destruction of school property. This is what Nigerian students must understand and stop shooting themselves in the foot.