Mixed reactions have continued to trail the recent decision by the National Universities Commission (NUC), to unbundle  Mass Communication as a course of study in universities and polytechnics across the country.
The National Universities Commission had recently, in Abuja, announced the decision of the commission to unbundle it into seven  degree awarding  programmes
Since the announcement  by NUC,   many Mass Communication  students across  Nigerian universities have reacted in different ways
While some see it as a welcome development which will help in grooming students into specific areas of specialisation, others have condemned the decision, saying it rather came too late , as the study of Mass Communication has been  appreciated in both polytechnics and  universities.
Ngozi  Nnadozie, a 400 level student of Mass Communication, Rivers State University, commended  NUC for taking the bold step by unbundling the course into different areas as this she said ,would help any student who wishes to study any of the courses to do so without distraction.
According to her,  most persons who graduated with a degree in  Mass Communication , went into the labour market confused because they didn’t have a particular field they specialized on ,adding that  with the recent development, more professionals would emerge.
Joyce Kalu, a 400 level  Mass Communication student of the same university   opined  that the  unbundling of the course would bridge the specialization gap in Mass Communication  where  people  become jacks of all trades and masters of none.
”Anyone who wishes to study journalism would be taught the course in detail. Most Nigerian universities and polytechnics students are taught only the theoretical part of the course without being engaged in real life situations because the study of Mass Communication has many branches but following the new turn of things, a student would have focus and take decision from the beginning on the aspect of communication he wishes to study. Also the university administration would get more equipments, and manpower to teach the course”, she stated.
Another student,  Ifenyinwa  John of Port Harcourt Polytechnic   applauded the new policy , saying that it was an avenue for students to study beyond Mass Communication.
She advised administrators  of Nigerian universities to comply  with  the new NUC   policy and ensure that the newly introduced courses were  accredited in order to make their study  authentic.
Franca Chiwendu a graduate of Mass Communication from Abia State University, however, said the decision rather came late and urged  the commission to give proper orientation on the newly introduced courses  to aspiring students who will  study any of the courses.
She also appealed to the commission to make sure any university undertaking the courses is  well equipped before giving  such institutions  accreditation.
“Although the Nigerian University Commission had given a free hand to any university that is ready to  get qualified and digitally experienced lecturers to take the courses as it is also a means by which young graduates can gain employment”, she stated.